Palestinian Prisoner Gives Birth in Israeli Jail; Rights Group Blames Authorities

Palestinian prisoner Dana Judeh, 35, gave birth to a baby girl on Monday in Israel's Damon prison. Judeh, from the town of 'Iraq al-Tahta in the occupied West Bank's Nablus Governorate, was held under administrative detention, a policy allowing for imprisonment without trial.

The Palestinian Commission for Detainees' Affairs and Ex-Detainees confirmed the birth and held the Israeli occupation authorities and prison administration fully responsible for the safety of both mother and child. The commission stated that holding Judeh while pregnant, subjecting her to administrative detention, and denying her adequate medical care during her pregnancy constitutes a crime violating international norms and laws.

The commission further condemned forcing Judeh to give birth inside prison as a "double crime" against human values. They criticized the prison administration's "brutal" treatment of female prisoners, citing Judeh's case as evidence, and questioned the international community's inaction in the face of such practices.

Judeh had spent six months in administrative detention and was scheduled for release on Tuesday, upon the expiration of her administrative detention order. The commission's statement comes amid ongoing reports of harsh conditions for Palestinian female prisoners.