DaysofPal- A recently released Palestinian journalist has described observing Ramadan inside Israeli prisons as an ordeal marked by repression, hunger, torture, and harsh disciplinary measures that overshadowed the spiritual significance of the holy month.
Mohammad Qaoud, a former detainee whose testimony was cited by the Palestinian Information Center, recounted how prisoners would begin preparing spiritually for Ramadan during the preceding month of Sha’ban, reflecting on memories of family gatherings and traditions they once shared before their arrests.
Inside prison cells, he said, those recollections often intensified feelings of isolation.
Qaoud said Palestinian prisoners attempted to maintain religious practices, including reading the Qur’an and engaging in faith-based discussions, but were forced to do so discreetly due to restrictions on collective worship and fear of disciplinary action.
He described fasting under detention as “double suffering,” alleging that food shortages and punitive measures compounded the physical strain.
According to Qaoud, Israeli prison services carry out cell raids shortly before sunset, confiscating or discarding food intended for breaking the fast.
In some cases, he claimed, detainees were left with only water and were compelled to continue fasting for extended periods.
He was particularly critical of conditions at Sde Teiman Prison, which he described as especially severe.
Qaoud noted that detainees there were frequently blindfolded and restrained for long durations and deprived of basic information, including the time of day.
During Ramadan, he said, prisoners were at times denied clear notification of suhoor and iftar timings, creating confusion and distress about fulfilling religious obligations.
Qaoud further claimed that detention conditions intensified after October 7, 2023, with authorities prohibiting congregational prayers and religious lessons, limiting access to ablution facilities, and installing continuous camera surveillance inside cells.
He recounted one incident during the final days of Ramadan in which a detainee was punished after being seen briefly praying on camera.
The prisoner was reportedly forced to stand for hours and later subjected to physical abuse during a cell raid.
Qaoud’s account portrays Ramadan in detention as a period in which spiritual observance unfolded under strict monitoring and hardship, conditions he described as among the most difficult experiences of his imprisonment.
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