Rights advocates in the region argue that the stance adopted by major Western capitals has created an atmosphere in which the ongoing genocidal war can continue unchecked, leaving thousands of detainees exposed to worsening treatment inside Israeli prisons. They note that governments which often portray themselves as guardians of democratic values have shown little willingness to confront the mounting evidence of systematic abuses.

For years, Western officials expressed repeated concern for Israeli prisoners previously held in Gaza, urging international organisations to secure access and ensure adequate care. Yet, these same voices have rarely applied similar pressure regarding the fate of detainees held by Israel, despite extensive testimony describing torture, starvation policies, and widespread medical mistreatment, conditions that have sharply deteriorated since October 2023, when the genocidal war escalated. More than one hundred detainees have died in custody during this period, according to legal monitors.

Today, over 9,500 prisoners live under conditions that human rights lawyers say fall far below minimum international standards. Reports describe physical abuse, the withholding of food, routine humiliation, including sexualised harassment, persistent medical neglect, and severe restrictions on family access. Despite repeated documentation from regional and global observers, Israeli authorities have taken no meaningful steps to improve the situation, reinforcing fears that Western political protection has reduced the likelihood of accountability.