Palestinian Prisoners Face Unprecedented Escalation of Repression

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are experiencing unprecedented levels of repression, escalating significantly since the start of the "genocide" in Gaza, according to a report. This intensified crackdown is seen as a continuation of decades of systematic policies by the Israeli prison system against Palestinian detainees.

In the past three years, approximately 28% of all Palestinian prisoners who have died since 1967 have perished. Out of the total 329 Palestinian prisoners who have died since 1967, 92 have been identified since the recent escalation, with the fate of dozens of detainees from Gaza remaining unknown. Israel is also reportedly holding the bodies of 100 Palestinian prisoners who died both before and after the recent conflict.

The report details how detention has evolved from deprivation of liberty to an existential threat, with prisons becoming environments of "slow, systematic killing." This includes widespread torture, deprivation of food, water, and medical care, leading to fatal illnesses. Sexual assault, including rape, is reportedly used as a tool for humiliation, alongside brutal group assaults involving rubber bullets, stun guns, batons, tear gas, sound grenades, and police dogs.

Since the start of the "genocide," over 26,000 Palestinians have been arrested in the West Bank and Jerusalem, with thousands more from Gaza whose numbers are difficult to ascertain due to ongoing conflict and lack of information. These arrests have targeted all segments of Palestinian society, including over 800 women and 2,000 children in the West Bank. The report also highlights the increased use of administrative detention, with 3,101 individuals held without charge or trial, and 1,419 classified as "unlawful combatants" under a law applied to Gaza detainees.

A new law, slated to take effect in March 2026, allows for the execution of Palestinian prisoners, which rights groups view as a dangerous culmination of colonial and racist practices that legalizes killing and is part of a broader system of torture and colonial policies. The law is seen as transferring killing to the level of "official policy" and could be used to target Palestinian leaders and activists.

Furthermore, the broad definition of "incitement" is being used as a tool for control, leading to self-censorship among Palestinians. Institutions are calling on the international community to uphold international law, demanding an end to the occupation and the dismantling of its colonial pillars, and urging immediate compliance with the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion. They also demand that countries take responsibility for the use of the death penalty against Palestinians, viewing it as a violation of the fundamental right to life and a breach of international human rights obligations, particularly the prohibition of torture. The report also notes that Israel continues to prevent the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting prisoners, despite a ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court.