[REVISION HISTORY]

Israeli policy regarding Palestinian detainees

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-09 06:45 UTC → 2026-09-09 17:34 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In July 2026, the Palestinian prisoners’ rights organization Hanazila raised alarms regarding a project proposed by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Dubbed the “Crocodile Prison” plan for a desert facility near the Negev, the scheme reportedly involves constructing water channels and using crocodiles as a method of guard control. Hanazila condemned the initiative as a form of “collective punishment” and a breach of international humanitarian law. By August 2026, Ben-Gvir’s focus on detention conditions was highlighted during visits to female Palestinian detainees at Damun Prison. Ben-Gvir expressed satisfaction with harsh living conditions, stating that suffering is ‘expected’ for those he classifies as terrorists and declaring that the era of ‘summer camps’ in prisons has ended. He asserted his responsibility for maintaining conditions at the “bare minimum required by law.” Following these visits, detainees reported being deprived of showering, clean clothing, water, and medical care. Human rights organizations, including the Palestinian Prisoner Club and the Adalah Legal Center, accused Ben-Gvir of using the detainees for “political propaganda” and election campaigning by filming and publishing footage of the encounters. Reports have also emerged regarding a significant escalation in mistreatment, including physical and psychological abuse such as blindfolding and tying detainees behind their backs. Additionally, advocates highlighted a health crisis within the prison system, noting a scabies outbreak in Al-Damun and Ofer prisons. They cited instances of medical neglect, including the reported amputation of a child’s foot due to the disease, and have called for urgent international intervention to ensure accountability. In September 2026, the Palestine Prisoners Studies Center reported systematic repression and organized violations against Palestinian female detainees at Damun Prison. The center characterized these actions as a coordinated campaign supported and incited by Ben-Gvir rather than isolated incidents.

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