The Israeli Supreme Court has acknowledged that food provided to Palestinian prisoners in occupation jails fails to meet basic legal standards, a rare ruling that sheds light on the severe deprivation endured by thousands behind bars.

The court criticised the prison service for failing to provide sufficient quantities to sustain detainees, ruling that what they receive does not amount to luxuries but rather essential living conditions guaranteed by law. The decision followed a petition highlighting the deterioration of prisoners’ treatment and the systematic denial of their most basic rights.

Despite the ruling, conditions inside Israeli prisons remain dire. Rights groups and recently released detainees have long documented the policy of deliberate starvation enforced under the directives of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, leaving many prisoners emaciated and in failing health. Testimonies describe a daily struggle against hunger and mistreatment that amounts to a slow erosion of life itself.

This rare legal admission underscores the broader reality: the suffering of Palestinian prisoners is not incidental but the result of policies designed to strip them of dignity, health, and hope, raising fresh questions about accountability for what many see as inhumane and unlawful practices.