Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir takes pride in harsh treatment of Palestinian women prisoners

JERUSALEM: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has triggered fresh condemnation after expressing satisfaction with the harsh conditions faced by Palestinian women prisoners and releasing footage from inside a women’s detention facility.

According to Arab media reports, footage released on social media showed Ben-Gvir entering the prison and speaking to Palestinian female detainees about their living conditions. One prisoner reportedly told the minister that she had been unable to shower for three days, was not receiving adequate medical care and did not have clean clothes.

Rather than promising improvements, Ben-Gvir reportedly said that the period of providing better conditions in prisons was over. He said the current situation reflected his policy and claimed direct responsibility for the conditions inside the facilities.

In a social media post accompanying the footage, Ben-Gvir said he would continue what he described as a policy of providing prisoners with only the most basic facilities. He justified the approach by referring to the conditions of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

The minister’s comments and the publication of the footage have drawn sharp criticism from Palestinian prisoner and human rights bodies, which accused him of using detained women for political purposes.

The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs condemned Ben-Gvir’s visit, saying it was not a genuine inspection but an attempt to intimidate and humiliate Palestinian women in front of cameras. The commission described the episode as political provocation aimed at frightening prisoners and undermining their morale.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society also condemned the filming and publication of images of female detainees, arguing that broadcasting such footage violated their dignity.

The organisation said testimonies from released prisoners and detainees had repeatedly alleged serious mistreatment in Israeli prisons and detention centres. The claims have been strongly contested in the broader political and legal dispute surrounding Palestinian detention.

Ben-Gvir, a far-right Israeli politician who became national security minister in late 2022, has advocated tougher prison conditions for Palestinian detainees. Palestinian organisations say policies implemented under his tenure have included restrictions on food and water, family visits and showering, along with reductions in other prison facilities and privileges.

He has also overseen the transfer of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners between detention facilities, according to Palestinian prisoner organisations.

In 2025, Ben-Gvir reportedly opposed an Israeli court directive calling for Palestinian prisoners to receive adequate food and continued advocating tougher conditions.

The latest controversy comes as Palestinian organisations raise renewed concerns over the scale of detention. The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs estimates that around 9,400 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including approximately 88 women and more than 350 children.

The allegations have added another layer to the already intense international scrutiny of Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees. Rights groups have repeatedly called for detainees to be treated in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights standards.

Ben-Gvir’s latest remarks, meanwhile, are likely to intensify the debate over whether prison policies are being used as a tool of collective punishment amid the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.