Blindfolded, bound and beaten: Palestinians tell of Israeli jail abuse

In recent months, the situation in Israeli prisons has become increasingly alarming, particularly for Palestinian detainees. Since the beginning of the Gaza conflict in October, the number of Palestinian prisoners has surged to approximately 10,000, doubling in just a few months. B’tselem, a prominent human rights organization in Israel, has released a report detailing the dire conditions faced by these detainees, which they describe as tantamount to torture. The report is based on testimonies from 55 recently released Palestinian prisoners, who have shared harrowing accounts of their experiences in Israeli jails. Yuli Novak, the executive director of B’tselem, emphasized the consistency of the testimonies, stating, 'All of them again and again, told us the same thing. ' The accounts reveal a pattern of ongoing abuse, including physical and psychological violence, humiliation, sleep deprivation, and inadequate food. Novak's conclusion is stark: 'The Israeli prison system as a whole, in regard to Palestinians, turned into a network of torture camps. ' The escalation of violence following the Hamas attacks on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, has led to a significant increase in the number of Palestinian detainees. The Israeli prison system, which includes facilities run by both the military and the civilian prison service, is now overwhelmed. Many prisons are overcrowded, with some cells designed for six inmates housing a dozen or more. B’tselem's report paints a grim picture of filthy, overcrowded cells where inmates are forced to sleep on the floor without mattresses or blankets. Some prisoners were captured immediately after the Hamas attacks, while others were arrested during the ongoing military operations in Gaza or in the occupied West Bank. Many detainees have been released without any charges against them. One of the released prisoners, Firas Hassan, was already incarcerated when the conflict escalated. He was held under 'administrative detention,' a controversial practice that allows for indefinite detention without charge, primarily applied to Palestinians. Firas described how conditions in the prison deteriorated rapidly after October 7, saying, 'Life totally changed. ' He likened the experience to a tsunami. Having spent years in and out of prison, Firas recounted a particularly brutal incident that occurred two days after the attacks. He was severely beaten by a group of 20 masked officers armed with batons, sticks, and dogs. He was blindfolded and tied up, enduring a relentless beating for nearly an hour. Firas lost a significant amount of weight during his time in custody, and he expressed that he had never experienced such brutality in his previous incarcerations. Another individual, Sari Khourieh, an Israeli Arab lawyer, also shared his experience of abuse while detained in an Israeli prison. He was held for ten days at Megiddo prison, where he witnessed chaotic and violent conditions. Sari was accused of glorifying Hamas in social media posts, a charge he vehemently denied. He described the prison environment as lawless, stating, 'They just lost their mind. ' Although he was spared the worst of the abuse, he observed fellow inmates being beaten without cause and heard their desperate pleas for help. Sari learned from other detainees that the treatment had worsened significantly after October 7. During his time in isolation, he heard a fellow inmate begging for medical assistance, but tragically, that individual died shortly thereafter. A recent United Nations report indicated that 17 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since October 7, while the Israeli military has announced investigations into the deaths of 35 detainees. Sari, reflecting on his experience, expressed his disillusionment with the legal system, stating, 'I’m an Israeli…I’m a lawyer. I’ve seen the world outside the prison. Now I’m inside. I see another world. ' His faith in the rule of law has been profoundly shaken. The Israeli army has denied allegations of systematic abuse, asserting that they take complaints seriously. However, since October 7, Israel has denied the International Committee of the Red Cross access to Palestinian detainees, a violation of international law. The government has not provided an explanation for this refusal. Recently, public outrage erupted over the treatment of Palestinian prisoners, particularly following allegations of abuse at a military base. Some far-right demonstrators, including members of the Israeli parliament, have been accused of inciting violence against Palestinian detainees. Yuli Novak from B’tselem has criticized the current government for exacerbating the situation, stating, 'These systems were put in the hands of the most right-wing, most racist minister that Israel ever had. ' She believes that the treatment of prisoners reflects a troubling moral decline in the nation, saying, 'The trauma and anxiety walks with us each and every day.