Palestinian prisoners treated like ‘human animals’ in Israeli jails: report

A prominent human rights group exposed the inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, where they are subjected to severe physical and psychological torture.

These prisoners are being deprived of food and denied urgent medical care.

Recent media reports also highlighted the appalling conditions at Israel's notorious Sde Teiman prison, where a Palestinian inmate was raped by soldiers of the Israeli occupation forces. 

These heinous acts of torture are not isolated to Sde Teiman but are reportedly widespread across other Israeli prisons as well.

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights shed light on the dire situation of Palestinian prisoners held in the Naqab prison.

According to their reports, at least 600 Palestinians are currently being held captive in Naqab prison, though some estimates suggest the number could be as high as 900.

A lawyer from Al Mezan who visited Naqab prison described the conditions as horrific, with prisoners enduring relentless torture and abuse.

“Israeli authorities have abused Palestinians in their custody for over ten months now, amid international silence and the absence of accountability,” Al Mezan said in a statement.

“Palestinian residents of Gaza are treated as ‘human animals’, demonstrating that the dehumanizing and genocidal rhetoric employed by the highest levels of the Israeli leadership to characterize Palestinians as a group was embraced throughout all ranks within the military and the IPS [Israeli Prison Service],” it added.

In June, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Association reported that Israel has detained more than 9,170 Palestinians from the West Bank since October 7, while thousands have been "forcibly disappeared" from Gaza.

Despite grave concerns cited by human rights organisations over the brutal treatment of Palestinian prisoners, Israeli authorities have refused to disclose the total number of Palestinians detained since October 7.