Israel has detained 435 Palestinian women in occupied West Bank since 7 October

The Israeli occupation authorities have detained at least 435 Palestinian women in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, since the beginning of its genocidal war in October 2023.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society explained in a report yesterday on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, that there is no clear estimate of the number of women who were detained from Gaza, as a number of them were later released, but it is certain that there are women who are still detained in the occupation camps, and that they are subject to enforced disappearance.

“Palestinian women are facing the bloodiest phase in the history of the conflict with the occupation, with the continuation of the war of genocide, in addition to facing a series of unprecedented crimes and serious violations against them, and the escalation of detentions and attacks at various levels, including sexual assaults,” said the society.

It added that since the beginning of the genocidal war, the Israeli occupation forces have escalated their systematic arrest of Palestinian women in all of the occupied territories, including children. Women, it said, have been arrested and used as hostages, with the aim of pressuring a family member targeted by the occupation to turn themselves in. This policy has been one of the most prominent crimes that has escalated significantly, and has included the wives and mothers of prisoners, including elderly women over 70 years old.

The report noted that the occupation has carried out extensive arrests of women from Gaza, including minors and elderly women, and detained them in camps linked to the army, as well as Damon Prison. It pointed out that in light of the occupation’s continued crime of the enforced disappearance of Gaza detainees, organisations do not have clear data on their numbers, or about those who remain detained in camps under the army’s control. It is known, however, that there are four Palestinian women from Gaza being held in Damon Prison today.

The occupation authorities hold most of the Palestinian women prisoners in Damon, a central prison that has been used historically for this purpose. The conditions are harsh and difficult as a result of the collective isolation policy that have been adopted against both male and female prisoners. Moreover, women prisoners in particular have been exposed since the beginning of the genocidal war to constant abuse, including solitary confinement, physical attacks, the seizure of their belongings and the deprivation of their rights.

According to the society, as of the beginning of November, the number of administrative detainees held with neither charge nor trial has increased to at least 3,443, including 31 women. Among them are journalists, lawyers, human rights activists and students.

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