Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) strongly condemns the ongoing and systematic violations against Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, which have led to the deaths of dozens of detainees under conditions that amount to gross human rights abuses.

These violations represent a flagrant disregard for international humanitarian law and demand urgent international accountability.

The deaths of Mohammed Sharif al-Asali (35 years old) on May 17, 2024, and Ibrahim Adnan Ashour (25 years old) on June 23, 2024, in Israeli prisons underscore the dire conditions detainees face. Reports from the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, and the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association confirm that at least 60 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli detention centers since October 2023, including 37 from Gaza.

Palestinian detainees and prisoners, now numbering over 10,400, are subjected to inhumane treatment, torture, and deliberate medical neglect. The Israeli authorities’ refusal to release detainees’ bodies further raises concerns over extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Israeli forces routinely withhold information, citing "ongoing investigations" as a tactic to evade international scrutiny and accountability.

Shocking images and testimonies confirm that detainees have been stripped, blindfolded, and humiliated by Israeli soldiers. Palestinian women detainees have reported sexual violence during their imprisonment, a grave crime that demands independent international investigation. The Israeli Minister of National Security has been seen publicly degrading detainees, further illustrating the institutionalized and systematic nature of these abuses.

Israeli authorities continue to defy international law and humanitarian treaties by implementing policies that facilitate arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, military trials, and the denial of basic legal rights. The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit the mistreatment of detainees and prisoners; however, Israeli authorities systematically deny Palestinians the rights guaranteed under the Fourth Geneva Convention, specifically Articles 81 and 91, which mandate that detainees receive adequate medical care and proper living conditions. Additionally, the Third Geneva Convention requires humane treatment of prisoners, including access to food, medical care, and regular health check-ups.

Despite these protections, Israel refuses to recognize Palestinian detainees, including resistance fighters, under the Third Geneva Convention, thereby stripping them of essential rights and protections. This blatant violation of international norms not only exacerbates the suffering of those affected but also undermines the rule of law. Such actions demand firm international response and accountability to ensure the humane treatment of all detainees and uphold the principles of justice and human rights.

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) urgently calls on the United Nations, international human rights organizations, and legal bodies to take decisive action regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees. WJWC demands accountability for the deaths of Palestinian prisoners, thorough investigations into the systematic abuse they face, and pressure on Israeli authorities to release detained individuals and end enforced disappearances. Transparency regarding the conditions and whereabouts of those imprisoned is essential, along with ensuring medical care, legal rights, and humane treatment in accordance with international law.

Furthermore, the organization insists on the prosecution of officials responsible for crimes against detainees, including torture, sexual violence, and extrajudicial killings. The international community must not remain silent in the face of these grave violations. Immediate and effective action is necessary to end these abuses, protect Palestinian detainees, and hold accountable those who perpetrate such crimes.

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Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC)

February 2025