The Palestinian Prisoners’ Studies Center confirmed on Monday that the Israeli occupation continues to detain 38 Palestinian female prisoners, depriving them of their basic rights and subjecting them to numerous oppressive measures, including solitary confinement, denial of medical care, education, and visits.
The Center criticized the international community for its empty slogans on women’s rights, which seem to vanish when it comes to the practices of the Israeli occupation against Palestinian female prisoners. The world turns a blind eye to the suffering of these 38 women held under dire humanitarian conditions, facing various forms of oppression, abuse, and torture outside the framework of the law. The number of detainees is continuously rising due to a systematic policy targeting Palestinian women.
Riyadh Al-Ashqar, the director of the Center, emphasized that the female prisoners undergo both mental and physical torture from the very moment of their arrest. Often, the occupation forces violently raid their homes in the middle of the night, causing panic among children. The detainees are then transferred to various detention centers, usually Al-Ramla or Al-Jalameh, where they are subjected to severe torture methods aimed at extracting forced confessions.
Cases of Torture against Palestinian Female Detainees
Al-Ashqar shed light on recent cases of torture, including that of Fatima Amarna, 41, from Jenin, who was arrested in Jerusalem earlier this month. During her arrest and subsequent interrogation, she endured extreme forms of maltreatment and torture. Soldiers brutally beat and kicked her to the point of unconsciousness. She was then taken to Al-Qashla investigation center, where the torture continued with physical assaults, privacy violations, and even attempts to forcibly remove her hijab. Later, she was moved to another detention center in Al-Ramla, kept in a solitary cell with a bare metal bed, a thin mattress, no pillow, and a filthy blanket, alongside foul smells emanating from the toilet.
Another case is that of Fatima Shaheen, 33, from Bethlehem, a mother of a child. She was arrested five months ago after being shot and injured in the abdomen and back, leading to partial paralysis. After undergoing surgeries, which included kidney and partial liver removal at Shaare Zedek Hospital, she was transferred to solitary confinement in Nafha Prison in Ramla. Despite her critical health condition and need for proper medical care, she was denied family visits and phone access.
Notably, another prisoner, Ataf Jaradat, 50, from Jenin, was shifted to assist Shaheen. Jaradat, imprisoned for two years, is the mother of three other prisoners. She suffers from hypertension and irregular heartbeat, requiring eight different medications. She has also shown symptoms of strokes and has been hospitalized multiple times.
This report underscores the critical need for international attention on the dire circumstances faced by Palestinian female prisoners under the Israeli occupation.
Facing Harsh Treatment and Neglect
The harsh reality of 38 Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli jails has been illuminated by Riad Al-Ashqar, the director of the Palestinian Prisoner Studies Center. These women, according to Al-Ashqar, face not only neglect but also repeated instances of abuse and humiliation.
Loss of Privacy and Constant Monitoring
These prisoners have consistently raised concerns about the lack of privacy in their cells. Surveillance cameras run around the clock, overseeing their every move. Regular raids of their quarters, coupled with isolated confinements, further strip them of any sense of autonomy. The structural design of these prisons, which situates bathrooms outside their rooms and restricts access to specific times, only adds to their discomfort.
Transfers and Treatment
Recent reports highlight the cases of Fadwa Hamada and Nawal Fatiha, who were transferred from Damon Prison to the “Abu Kabir” criminal prison in Tel Aviv. This move effectively isolated them from visitors and exposed them to challenging and demeaning conditions. Hamada, despite suffering from a leg injury months before, received no leniency in her treatment.
The “Bosta” Vehicle Ordeal
The journey in the notorious “Bosta” vehicles adds another layer of hardship. This transportation process, which can extend beyond 12 hours, is not only physically exhausting but also mentally draining. The Israeli authorities seem to intentionally use these trips as a means of further humiliating the female prisoners.
Restrictions and Penalties
Prisoners also face a myriad of restrictions during their incarceration. From being denied access to handicrafts and other manual work to a ban on education and learning, their days are monotonous and mentally taxing. Recreational activities are scarce, and they are frequently subjected to various penalties, including canteen bans, visitor restrictions, and communication cutoffs for trivial reasons.
Medical Negligence
Medical neglect has become a critical concern. Over 10 of these female prisoners have reported deteriorating health conditions with little to no appropriate medical care. The use of administrative detention, a controversial procedure that allows detention without formal charges, has been on the rise, further exacerbating their situation.
A Call for International Attention
The Palestinian Prisoner Studies Center urges international organizations championing women’s rights to adopt a neutral stance and address the escalating suffering of these prisoners. They call for genuine interventions to bring justice to these women, halt the ongoing violations against them, and expedite their release.
