Welcome to Hell: The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps

Report by B'Tselem | 2024

The report "Welcome to Hell: The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps" by B'Tselem, published in August 2024, investigates the treatment of Palestinian prisoners within Israeli prisons following the escalation of violence post-October 7, 2023. B'Tselem gathered testimonies from 55 Palestinian prisoners, revealing systematic and institutional abuse. The report outlines the following key findings:

1. Inhumane Prison Conditions: Prisoners describe extreme overcrowding, lack of sunlight, inadequate hygiene, and denial of basic needs like medical care and food. Cells are cramped, with some holding double their capacity, forcing prisoners to sleep on the floor in unsanitary conditions.
2. Physical and Psychological Abuse: Detainees were subjected to beatings, sleep deprivation, and violence during transfers. Sexual violence and humiliation were also used as tactics to break the prisoners’ spirit. Psychological trauma is compounded by the lack of external communication, as family visits and legal consultations were cut off under emergency regulations.
3. Systematic Torture: The Israeli Prison Service (IPS), under directives from the Israeli government, transformed detention facilities into "torture camps," according to the report. This policy has been openly endorsed by officials, including Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, who pushed for harsher treatment of Palestinian detainees.
4. Deaths in Custody: Since the war began, at least 60 Palestinian prisoners have died in custody, many due to extreme violence or lack of medical care.
5. Dehumanization and Collective Punishment: The report highlights the systemic dehumanization of Palestinians, reflected in the derogatory treatment by guards and the overall degradation of prison conditions. Prisoners are often denied access to religious practices and other personal freedoms.

The soldiers ordered me to take off my hijab. One of them told me: “I killed your husband and I want to bury you alive. Let the dogs eat you.
- Hadil Al-Dahduh to B'Tselem

The report concludes that the Israeli prison system, in its current state, functions as a tool for enforcing the Israeli regime’s control over the Palestinian population, amounting to widespread and systematic violations of human rights and international law.

For further details, the full report and more testimonies are available on B'Tselem's website.