Palestinian Prisoner’s Day Exposes Systemic Abuses in Israeli Detention

Starting yesterday, Palestinians across Ramallah and the occupied West Bank marked Palestinian Prisoner’s Day with marches and vigils, spotlighting the dire conditions faced by nearly 10,000 detainees in Israeli jails.

The recent death of a 20-year-old Palestinian man in custody, reported by Al Jazeera, intensified calls for justice amid escalating reports of torture, child detentions, and systemic abuses in Israel’s military prison system.

Surge in Detentions and Child Incarceration

The Palestinian Prisoner Society reports that 9,900 Palestinians are currently detained, up from 5,250 before October 2023.

This includes 3,498 held under administrative detention without charge, 27 women, and at least 400 children. Approximately one million Palestinians, including men, women, and children, have cycled through Israel’s military prison system over decades.

Each year, 400 to over 1,000 Palestinian children, some as young as 12 or younger, are detained.

Israel operates the world’s only military court system for children, where detainees are interrogated without lawyers or family present, facing documented allegations of torture, harassment, intimidation, and, in some cases, sexual abuse and rape, as reported by human rights organizations.

Harsh Conditions and Rising Deaths

Detainees, particularly those from Gaza, endure severe conditions, including inadequate food, lack of medical care, and torture.

Leaked reports describe systemic violations in Israeli prisons and army facilities, with many Gaza detainees “forcibly disappeared” as Israel withholds information about their status.

Since October 2023, at least 64 detainees have died in custody, including 40 from Gaza, per Palestinian figures.

The death toll in jails since 1967 stands at 301. The recent prisoner death underscores the lethal consequences of these conditions, fueling outrage on Prisoner’s Day.

Gaza’s Broader Humanitarian Crisis

The prisoner crisis coincides with Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, where medical sources told Al Jazeera that 35 people were killed in strikes since early Wednesday.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports 51,065 confirmed deaths and 116,505 injuries since October 2023, while the Gaza Government Media Office estimates over 61,700 dead, with thousands missing.

The United Nations notes 500,000 people have been newly displaced since the March 18 ceasefire collapse.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz called blocking humanitarian aid a “tool” to pressure Hamas, worsening the enclave’s plight.

Global Condemnation and Calls for Accountability

The International Criminal Court’s November 2024 arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes reflect growing international scrutiny.

Yet, the lack of oversight in Israel’s prison system persists, amplifying demands for accountability.

Prisoner’s Day marches in Ramallah and beyond highlighted the need to end child detentions, administrative detention, and systemic abuses.

A Persistent Demand for Justice

Palestinian Prisoner’s Day underscores the human toll of occupation, with 9,900 detainees, including hundreds of children, facing unprecedented violations.

As Palestinians mourn the latest death in custody and commemorate decades of incarceration, they call for the release of prisoners and an end to the injustices perpetuating this crisis.