Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has overseen a concerning transformation of the country’s prison system, with human rights group B’Tselem referring to the jails as “torture camps” where abuse is rampant. The Guardian’s Jerusalem correspondent, Bethan McKernan, spoke to former prisoners who detailed horrific experiences inside these prisons. Bethan reported that the detainees described severe beatings, violence during head counts, sexual violence, starvation rations, denial of medical care, lack of access to basic necessities like water and soap, and being kept indoors without seeing daylight. Former Palestinian prisoners shared their stories of life and death inside Israeli prisons.
According to the accounts provided by these former prisoners, the conditions in Israeli prisons are extremely harsh and inhumane, with allegations of ongoing abuse and violation of human rights. This raises concerns about the treatment of prisoners and the need for accountability and transparency in the Israeli prison system.
Itamar Ben-Gvir’s role in overseeing these conditions has sparked criticism and outrage, with calls for accountability and reform. The testimonies shared by former prisoners shed light on the reality of life inside Israeli prisons and highlight the urgent need for action to address these issues.
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