Israeli Prison Service Used Rubber Bullets on Palestinian Prisoners, Causing Severe Injuries

The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) has fired rubber bullets at Palestinian prisoners on at least 21 occasions since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023, resulting in severe injuries, including surgeries and the amputation of a prisoner's testicle. The incidents were documented by Physicians for Human Rights and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) in Ofer, Givatim, Ketziot, Gilboa, and Nitzan prisons, with most occurring between late 2025 and the first half of 2026. Testimonies indicate that the firing often happened at close range, sometimes inside cells, courtyards, or waiting areas, and in some cases without prior disturbances.

One prisoner at Ketziot was severely injured in the testicle in June, leading to its surgical amputation. Medical records from Soroka Hospital described the testicle as "completely crushed." The prisoner reported being beaten on his genitals a week prior to the incident, then shot inside his cell, sustaining injuries to his testicle and right knee. Another prisoner at Ketziot suffered a fractured left leg in July from a rubber bullet, requiring surgery. A prisoner at Megiddo sustained a hematoma in his right thigh in October from a rubber bullet, which later led to a pelvic fracture and hip replacement surgery.

An released prisoner recounted being shot in April inside a crowded cell after prisoners were forced into a small space. An IPS force then entered and fired, injuring several prisoners. He waited 15 days for adequate treatment, undergoing surgery after his release.

In August, Physicians for Human Rights and PCATI sent a letter to the Israeli Attorney General and the IPS Commissioner, demanding an end to the use of live ammunition against prisoners, especially at close range and indoors, warning of severe or fatal injuries. They highlighted the risk to uninvolved prisoners and requested information on weapon types and firing protocols.

The IPS responded two months later, stating that the use of "less lethal" means is based on operational needs, threat assessment, and risk evaluation, adhering to internal directives. They refused to halt usage entirely or provide details on ammunition. Meirav Ben Ze'ev of PCATI noted the difficulty prisoners face in reporting abuse due to fear of retaliation, with limited follow-up on complaints because of access restrictions. Muhannad Abu Ghosh of Physicians for Human Rights described the incidents as a recent escalation, turning into a frequent method of violence within prisons, causing severe bleeding, fractures, and internal injuries that can lead to permanent damage or death. The IPS dismissed the allegations as a "smear campaign," asserting that security prisoners are treated lawfully and receive all legal rights and care.