SAFA — The number of Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons has risen to 88, amid reports of torture, physical assaults, medical neglect, and systematic abuse, the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said on Monday.

In a statement to media outlets, the commission revealed that 24% of the women are being held under administrative detention orders, a practice that allows Israeli authorities to imprison Palestinians without formal charges or trial, often on the basis of classified evidence withheld from detainees and their lawyers.

The commission said administrative detention orders include both newly issued orders and repeated renewals, leaving Palestinian women facing prolonged imprisonment without knowing the evidence used against them or having a meaningful opportunity to challenge their detention.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the practice, warning that indefinite detention without charge or trial undermines fundamental legal protections and fair-trial guarantees.

Torture, Medical Neglect and Degrading Treatment

According to the commission, Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons are subjected to multiple forms of physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, food deprivation, medical neglect, solitary confinement, and the denial of basic necessities.

Testimonies collected from female detainees and their lawyers describe particularly harsh conditions inside Damon Prison, where Palestinian women face overcrowded cells, inadequate food, shortages of clothing and hygiene products, and the confiscation of medication and personal belongings.

The commission said detainees have also described invasive strip searches, sexual harassment, intimidation, and threats during interrogation, adding to the psychological suffering of women already held under severe restrictions.

The reported conditions have raised serious concerns over the physical and mental well-being of Palestinian women in Israeli custody, particularly those requiring regular medical care.

Violent Cell Raids and Escalating Repression

Rights reports cited by the commission also documented an escalation in punitive measures inside women's prison sections, including violent raids on cells, beatings, and the use of tear gas and stun grenades.

Female detainees have described being forced into humiliating positions during these operations, which the commission identified as part of a broader pattern of degrading treatment and intimidation.

The commission warned that the combination of physical assaults, psychological pressure, inadequate medical care, and restrictions on essential supplies places Palestinian women at continued risk of serious harm.

Calls for Urgent International Intervention

The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs renewed calls for international human rights institutions and humanitarian organizations to intervene urgently to protect Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons.

It urged international action to end torture and abusive detention practices, ensure access to adequate medical care and basic necessities, and hold those responsible for violations against Palestinian detainees accountable.

The commission stressed the need for sustained international attention to the conditions of Palestinian women in Israeli custody, warning that continued inaction leaves detainees exposed to further abuse and deteriorating prison conditions.