Retaliatory Measures Against Female Prisoners in Israeli Prisons
The Palestinian Authority has reported that the Israeli Prison Service has imposed severe retaliatory measures on female prisoners, depriving them of essential human needs. According to a statement from the Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs Authority, a recent visit by their lawyer revealed that 95 female detainees are currently facing harsh conditions in Israeli prisons. These conditions include a lack of clothing, food, and medical treatment, which are considered fundamental human rights.
The prison administration has reportedly isolated these female prisoners from the outside world and subjected them to strip searches, beatings, and other forms of repression. Most of the detainees were arrested after October 7, 2023, under administrative detention orders, which allow for imprisonment without trial. This situation has raised significant concerns among human rights organizations about the treatment of Palestinian detainees.
Context of Increased Arrests and Human Rights Concerns
Since the escalation of conflict in Gaza over a year ago, the number of arrests in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem has surged, with over 11,500 Palestinians reportedly detained. Human rights organizations, both local and international, have condemned the deteriorating conditions of Palestinian detainees, particularly in notorious facilities like Sde Teiman prison, located within an Israeli military base in the Negev Desert. Reports indicate that these facilities are characterized by overcrowding and inadequate medical care, raising alarms regarding the treatment of prisoners amid ongoing tensions in the region.
