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Palestinian women detainees facing escalating violence in Israeli prisons: report
Female Palestinian detainees are facing an escalation of retaliatory and aggressive policies by Israeli authorities in the Damon prison, the Palestinian Commission of Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs has warned.
In a statement published on Sunday, the commission noted the inhumane and unethical treatment the women face, along with physical and psychological abuse.
The commission's legal team documented the treatment after visiting the prisons, where the abuse has intensified. The Palestinian women face psychological abuse in the form of rape threats, strip searches, curses, beating and starvation.
The women were also deprived of basic items like clothes, covers, sanitisers, medicine and feminine hygiene products, with their health conditions ignored.
The report highlights that collective punishment is "implemented persistently", as the detained are periodically banned from having showers and prevented from going out to the prison’s yard.
"The commission called on feminine rights organizations, associations and local and international to collaborate to expose the constant violations practiced against Palestinians women detainees to form a public opinion that help in ending their suffering," the commission said in its statement.
Abuses committed at the Damon prison have been previously documented.
In November, the prisoners' commission highlighted the harsh conditions and abuse female prisoners face, including being deprived of essential winter items, having personal items confiscated, hygiene supplies restricted and being forced to eat low-quality food, leading to health problems.
The group also detailed the use of gas sprays inside the rooms as collective punishment, and detainees accused the deputy director of Damon Prison of physically assaulting them.
The commission's latest findings highlight the plight Palestinian prisoners have been facing even before 7 October 2023.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society revealed the number of Palestinians detained since 7 October has risen to 11,400, including those who have been released.
There are over 400 women held in Israeli detention in the occupied West Bank.