Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir boasted that he is directly responsible for imposing harsher conditions on Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
اضافة اعلان
He made the remarks while entering the cells of Palestinian women prisoners, according to a video posted by Ben-Gvir on his X account on Sunday.
The video shows a female prisoner describing the conditions of her detention, saying they are extremely poor and that the women are being denied basic rights and personal necessities.
“This is our third day without showers. We are not receiving medical treatment, and our clothes are not clean,” she said.
Ben-Gvir responded by boasting: “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.”
This was not the first time Ben-Gvir has entered Palestinian prisoners’ cells and mocked them. Earlier this month, he ridiculed a female prisoner who complained about harsh detention conditions and the lack of basic necessities.
Since taking office in late 2022, Ben-Gvir has pursued tougher detention conditions for Palestinian prisoners, according to Palestinian officials, including what they describe as a systematic system of abuse involving food deprivation, mistreatment and various forms of assault, including sexual abuse.
They also accuse Israeli authorities of imposing conditions that contribute to the spread of diseases and epidemics, alongside systematic deprivation, isolation of prisoners from the outside world and continued restrictions on family visits.
According to the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, around 9,400 Palestinian prisoners are currently held in Israeli prisons, including 88 women and more than 350 children.
