As the world marks International Women's Day on March 8, the suffering of 21 Palestinian women in Israeli prisons highlights ongoing human rights violations. According to Addameer, these detainees endure harsh conditions, including medical neglect, overcrowding, and mistreatment, with some forced to sleep on the floor and wear the same clothes for weeks. Among them are mothers, students, teachers, and even a minor, all subjected to systematic abuse.

Since 1967, Israel has arrested around 14,000 Palestinian women, with a record surge after October 7, 2023, targeting not just activists but also elderly mothers and minors. Arrests often involve night raids, police dogs, and physical abuse, with women blindfolded, handcuffed, and transported under inhumane conditions. Many are taken as hostages to pressure family members, a tactic that has intensified since late 2023.

Inside Damon Prison, overcrowding, lack of healthcare, and deliberate medical neglect put lives at risk. Some prisoners, including the wounded, receive no proper treatment. Reports detail cases of rape threats, strip searches, and forced disappearances, especially among detainees from Gaza, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Addameer calls these practices war crimes, urging international bodies to hold Israel accountable under the Fourth Geneva Convention. As the world celebrates women's achievements, the resilience of Palestinian female prisoners remains a powerful reminder of the urgent need for justice and freedom.