Palestinian female prisoners denied food and clothing in Israeli prison

The Palestinian Prisoners Commission warned today that conditions for female Palestinian detainees at Israel’s Damon prison have deteriorated to alarming levels of abuse and neglect.

According to the Commission’s lawyer, the Israeli prison administration continues to deny Palestinian female detainees essential winter clothing and blankets, leaving them suffering from the cold weather.

Each prisoner is provided only one winter coat, and access to basic hygiene products remains severely limited, with detainees receiving just a small, inadequate packet of shampoo.

The report also highlighted the poor and insufficient food provided to the prisoners. For over seven months, detainees have been forced to eat little more than “legumes”, leading to serious health issues such as constipation.

Moreover, the Commission has highlighted disturbing accounts from female detainees at Damoun prison, where guards routinely invade their cells as collective punishment and confiscate their personal belongings, including makeshift cups and even sewing needles.

Additionally, reports revealed that the Deputy Director of Damoun Prison physically assaulted several prisoners for no apparent reason and verbal abuse has become a regular occurrence.

The Commission also noted that many detainees avoid seeking medical attention at the prison clinic due to fear of mistreatment. Instead of receiving care, they are often interrogated during these visits.

The majority of the female prisoners have been arrested since 7 October 2023 and held under administrative detention orders. They are thus held with neither charge nor trial, based on “secret evidence” which even their lawyers are not allowed to access.

The Palestinian Authority estimates that, since October 2023, Israel has arrested more than 11,500 Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank, including Occupied Jerusalem.

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