Palestinian political figures and rights advocates are raising renewed alarm over the treatment of Palestinians held in Israeli detention, warning that deliberate abuse is being used to break morale during a wider genocidal war. According to statements issued this week, prisoners are being subjected to medical neglect and the denial of basic necessities such as adequate food and water, practices described as intentional rather than incidental. The warnings come amid growing concern for elderly detainees and those suffering from chronic illnesses, whose lives are said to be at particular risk.

Speaking on behalf of Hamas, senior figure Mahmoud Mardawi said Israeli authorities bear full responsibility for the consequences of what he called a dangerous escalation inside detention centres. He cautioned that conditions are steadily deteriorating and could trigger further unrest among prisoners. Far from weakening them, he argued, such measures have historically reinforced prisoners’ resolve, portraying those held as a living symbol of Palestinian endurance under pressure.

The situation has worsened since the onset of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, with a sharp rise in the number of Palestinians placed in administrative detention without charge or trial. Rights groups estimate that such cases now make up more than a third of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Reports from former detainees describe overcrowded cells, severe hygiene problems and routine mistreatment, accounts that have been passed to international human rights organisations for documentation.

Calls have intensified for public mobilisation in support of prisoners, particularly across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as among international supporters. Hunger strikes have repeatedly emerged as a form of protest inside detention facilities, highlighting what prisoners describe as the absence of legal safeguards and humane standards. Palestinian health officials in Gaza have also condemned what they characterise as crimes against prisoners, urging urgent international intervention to halt ongoing abuse.