110 Palestinians Die in Israeli Prisons Under Ben Gvir’s Policies

A record high of 110 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli prisons due to policies enacted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over the past two and a half years. This alarming figure, reported by the news outlet Walla, indicates a significant increase in mortality rates among prisoners, particularly when compared to the approximately 187 deaths recorded between 1967 and 2007.

Data from the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs highlights that the current rate of death among Palestinian detainees is approximately one per week. Walla noted that no official figures exist for the years preceding Ben Gvir’s tenure, which began in December 2022, but human rights organizations estimate that dozens of deaths occurred prior to this period.

Ben Gvir’s policies, characterized by increased restrictions, have resulted in smaller food rations, reduced access to sunlight, and limitations on warm clothing, showers, and hygiene products for detainees. Reports indicate that many Palestinian prisoners have died in hospitals while receiving treatment rather than within the detention facilities themselves.

The situation has worsened significantly since hostilities escalated in Gaza on October 7, 2023. Human rights organizations have documented a surge in reports of systematic abuse and torture in Israeli custody, with at least 100 deaths attributed to these conditions since the outbreak of violence. The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has described Israeli prisons as “torture camps,” a sentiment echoed by the Israeli Public Defender’s Office, which recently reported deteriorating conditions, including extreme overcrowding and pervasive violence from prison staff.

A recent report from the UN Committee Against Torture highlighted a troubling trend, stating that the use of torture in Israeli detention has become “organized and widespread,” particularly since the onset of the Gaza conflict. The committee expressed serious concern over reports indicating a de facto state policy of torture and ill-treatment that has intensified significantly in recent months.

At present, approximately 9,250 Palestinians are reported to be in Israeli prisons, although the actual number may be higher as Israel has withheld information on numerous individuals detained during military operations in Gaza. Estimates suggest that at least 10,000 Palestinians remain in detention, despite a recent prisoner exchange that saw hundreds released in return for Israeli captives.

Nearly half of all Palestinian detainees are held without charge or trial, often under administrative detention orders that can be renewed indefinitely. This situation has drawn increasing scrutiny as Israel deliberates a new bill that would permit the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners convicted of murder on nationalistic grounds.

On Monday, Ben Gvir attended a parliamentary session wearing a noose pin, symbolizing his support for the proposed legislation. He stated, “The time has come for the death penalty for terrorists!” The bill has passed a preliminary vote in the Knesset, with 39 members supporting it and 16 opposing. Should it advance, it would require two additional readings before becoming law.

The implications of these policies and proposed legislation are significant, raising serious concerns among international observers regarding human rights in Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees. The ongoing situation continues to attract condemnation from both international and local human rights organizations, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and reform in the treatment of prisoners.