Allegations are intensifying over the treatment of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention facilities, with senior rights figures warning that conditions have deteriorated to a level amounting to a slow-moving genocide. Qaddoura Fares, a long-standing advocate for prisoners’ rights, has described what is unfolding inside prisons as a pattern of lethal practices, arguing that deaths are no longer isolated incidents but part of a broader, systemic approach. He points to both direct physical abuse and the withholding of essential medical care as central factors contributing to the rising toll.

Figures cited by Fares suggest that more than 320 Palestinian prisoners have died in custody since 1967, a number he says reflects decades of entrenched violations. However, the pace of deaths has accelerated sharply during the current genocidal war, with dozens reported since October 2023 alone. Of particular concern, he notes, is the growing number of prisoners whose whereabouts remain unknown, raising fears that some may be dying in undisclosed locations without scrutiny or record. The lack of transparency has fuelled suspicion that oversight mechanisms are being bypassed entirely.

Alongside these concerns, recent legislative developments have deepened anxiety among families and observers. A draft law advancing through the Israeli parliament proposes the introduction of capital punishment for Palestinian prisoners, with provisions allowing executions to be carried out within a short timeframe and without the possibility of appeal or clemency. Critics argue that, in the current climate, such measures risk formalising practices that already appear to disregard basic legal safeguards, further endangering thousands currently in detention.

The overall prison population has surged, now exceeding 9,500 individuals, including women and children, with a significant proportion held without formal charges under administrative detention. For many, the combination of overcrowding, limited access to healthcare, and tightening restrictions paints a bleak picture. Fares and others are urging immediate international scrutiny, warning that continued inaction may allow what they describe as an escalating genocide within prison walls to proceed unchecked.