Israel escalates violations of female Palestinian prisoners during Ramadan

Female Palestinian prisoners in Israel’s notorious Damon Prison have complained of ongoing and escalated maltreatment, punishment and harsh incarceration conditions specially during the Month of Ramadan.

A lawyer from the Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs who visited the prisoners in Damon said jailers provide them with incorrect times for breaking their fast and serve them insufficient food which is spoiled.

A detainee named Nour Muhammad from Nablus who has been detained in Damon since 12 May 2024 described the conditions as “extremely unbearable” especially during the holy month, affirming that they do not receive the pre-dawn suhoor meal ahead of starting their fast.

Prisoner Karmel Khawaja, 19, from Ni’lin village in the central occupied West Bank, who was arrested on 2 March, also complained of miserable detention conditions including a severe shortage of clothes in winter.

Prisoner Fidaa Asaf, 49, from Qalqilya, who is a leukemia patient, said since her arrest two weeks ago she has not seen a specialist doctor, or been taken to hospital, or given medication, despite a court decision issued on 6 March ordering the prison administration to provide her with proper medical care.

Another prisoner reported that her colleagues were harassed by female prison guards during strip searches.

According to the prisoners, Damon jailers carry out dawn raids on the cells almost every day and take the detainees out to the prison yard in the early morning hours when it is very cold.

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