As the Gaza conflict enters its ninth month, reports reveal a stark intensification of abuse against Palestinian prisoners held by Israeli forces. Over 10,400 detainees face worsening conditions, with more than 1,800 from Gaza designated “unlawful combatants”, a label stripping them of international legal protections.

Human rights experts warn of a systematic campaign of torture, starvation, and psychological torment inside Israeli prisons. Hassan Abd Rabbo, a leading researcher, describes this as a “war of revenge” and “collective punishment,” involving daily beatings, medical neglect, and isolation.

Former detainees liken prisons to “slow execution chambers,” engineered to break Palestinian spirit through psychological warfare. Women, children, and elderly are among those swept up in mass arrests, with over 560 women detained, many under vague charges of “incitement.”

Night raids targeting prisoners’ families have become routine, often involving violence and intimidation, violating the Fourth Geneva Convention. Yet, international silence allows these abuses to continue unchecked.

Despite brutal repression, Palestinian prisoners show remarkable resilience, steadfastly resisting within the walls. Activists and rights groups call for urgent global action to end this “war within a war” and hold perpetrators accountable.