Ben Gvir films Palestinian women in cells, boasts of worsening prison conditions

Ben Gvir films Palestinian women in cells, boasts of worsening prison conditions Submitted by Fayha Shalash on Mon, 08/31/2026 - 09:23 Rights groups accuse Ben Gvir of exploiting the suffering of female detainees at Damon Prison for political propaganda Israeli police surround far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir during a Jerusalem Day flag march on 26 May 2025 (Menahem Kahana/AFP) Off Israeli media outlets on Sunday published a video showing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visiting Damon Prison, where dozens of female Palestinian prisoners are being held. The video , originally published on Ben Gvir's X account, shows him storming the cells of the female Palestinian prisoners, and boasting about the dire conditions of their detention. It has sparked a wave of reactions and criticism. The video shows one of the prisoners complaining about the harsh conditions of detention, while Ben Gvir appears to ignore her complaint and affirm his satisfaction, saying, “The good conditions in the prisons are over. This is the current situation, and I am directly responsible for everything. I am pleased with these conditions.” In a post sharing the video, the far-right minister wrote on X that the “whining” of prisoners over their conditions does not work on him, adding that he'll “continue to lead a policy of the bare minimum of the minimum". Palestinian and human rights organisations have termed this a public documentation of the policy of mistreating prisoners. The video has reignited criticism of Ben Gvir's policies towards Palestinian prisoners, after he previously published videos from inside prisons in which he appeared to mock detainees' complaints about food, water and detention conditions. As the video circulated, international solidarity activists and Israeli peace activists held a vigil outside Damon Prison in support of female Palestinian prisoners, protesting against their detention conditions and Ben Gvir's policies. Sharif Tahaineh, the husband of prisoner Hanaa Tahaineh, 49, from the town of Silat al-Harithiya near Jenin, confirmed that she appeared in the video alongside prisoner Yasmin Shaaban, who can be seen conveying the harsh prison conditions to Ben Gvir. According to Tahaineh, Hanaa told her lawyer in the latest visit that Ben Gvir stormed into the prisoners' cells, spoke to them, and boasted about the severe conditions and deplorable circumstances they had complained about. Former Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza asks Ben Gvir to let him execute Palestinian prisoners Read More » "We were waiting to see the video, and when it circulated we immediately recognised her," Tahaineh told Middle East Eye. "We were shocked by her appearance and her drastic weight loss. This confirms the prisoners' lack of the most basic necessities for human life." On 8 June, Tahaineh was released after serving 22 months in Israeli prisons. He was expecting to be greeted by his wife, Hanaa, but was shocked to learn of her arrest a week before his release. Hanaa was placed under administrative detention, a renewable practice, without charge or trial. She is a mother of six children, the eldest being 24 and the youngest 10. "I experienced the harsh conditions in prison. There's no life there, no basic necessities. I feel her suffering deeply," he added. Hanaa suffers from rheumatism and migraines, and recently contracted scabies. When her lawyer visited her, she had smeared toothpaste on her body to alleviate the itching, due to the lack of any treatment. According to Tahaineh, the purpose of releasing the video was to humiliate and degrade the female prisoners, especially since Ben Gvir told Hanaa and other female prisoners from Jenin, "Tell Jenin that the prisons have gone from bad to worse." Political propaganda Critics of Ben Gvir argue that publishing such videos not only documents prison procedures but also transforms the suffering of prisoners into political propaganda, at a time when concerns are growing about the conditions of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club (PPC) stated that the raid is an extension of a systematic policy targeting male and female prisoners, turning their suffering, the violations of their rights, and the ongoing process of genocide into material for political posturing and propaganda. According to the PPC, Ben Gvir’s actions go beyond incitement against prisoners, amounting to a deliberate provocation to humiliate and abuse detainees while turning prisons into a stage for political posturing aimed at winning public support. Deported flotilla activists allege 'sadistic' sexual abuse and torture in Israeli captivity Read More » "The Israeli prison system has become one of the most prominent sites of genocide, which has led to the deaths of more than 100 prisoners, 91 of whom have been identified, while Israel continues to withhold the bodies of some and conceal the fate of others," the PPC said. Hamas described Ben Gvir's actions as "embodying the level of fascism and political and moral depravity". In a statement issued on Sunday, the movement said that this episode reveals the "vengeful, terrorist mentality that governs the behaviour of the Israeli occupation and its leaders, which cannot be tolerated. "We warn of the danger of continuing to turn prisons into open arenas for violations, humiliation, threats, torture, and murder, and the exploitation by the occupation leaders of the suffering of male and female prisoners as cheap election propaganda," the statement continued. The Islamic Jihad Movement also held the Israeli government fully responsible for the safety of all female and male prisoners inside Israeli prisons, calling on international and humanitarian institutions to take urgent action to expose Israeli practices and put an end to the ongoing violations. The Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners stated that the raid represents a blatant display of abuse and organised state terrorism against female prisoners, and sends a message to prison guards to continue their repression and humiliation. "What is happening inside the prisons is not an isolated incident, but rather a broader policy for which the occupation government and the prison system bear responsibility," the centre added. Occupation Ramallah, occupied Palestine News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0