More than dozen Palestinian mothers being kept behind bars in Israeli prisons

Three Palestinian prisoners’ rights groups have shed light on the dire conditions that female Palestinians are enduring in Israeli prisons and detention centers, stating that the Tel Aviv regime is holding over a dozen Palestinian mothers behind bars.

In a joint statement on the occasion of the Arab Mother’s Day, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS), the Palestinian Detainees' Committee, and the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association emphasized that 14 mothers, along with 25 other female Palestinian detainees, continue to suffer harsh conditions in Israeli jails, with their children losing the opportunity to be nurtured and comforted by them. 

The organizations described the recent months as some of the most brutal and deadly for Palestinian women, with violations against them escalating dramatically.

According to the joint statement, Israel has detained around 500 Palestinian women, many of whom are mothers, since the start of the genocidal war in Gaza. Some of these women were detained as hostages to pressure other family members into surrendering. This demonstrates the extent to which Israeli forces are willing to go in their attempts to control the Palestinian population.

The prisoners’ rights groups stated that the situation for Palestinian mothers is particularly tragic, with their detention often occurring in the middle of the night when Israeli soldiers raid homes violently.

Mothers are dragged away from their children under the threat of gunfire, creating scenes of emotional and physical trauma.

21 Palestinian women languishing in Israeli jails as world marks Women’s Day

Two Palestinian prisoners’ rights groups say Israel continues to keep 21 Palestinian women, who are subjected to systematic and organized crimes, in its detention centers.

The women’s suffering continues through harsh transportation and interrogation processes, where they are subjected to psychological and physical abuse.

Following their detention, Palestinian women are often transferred to Israeli interrogation centers, where they endure further abuse. They are forced to stand for long hours under inhumane conditions, deprived of food, sleep, and basic human dignity.

They face constant threats of violence aimed at coercing confessions or obtaining information.

Many of these women are also denied access to legal representation, adding to the emotional and psychological toll of their imprisonment.

The majority of Palestinian women prisoners are held in the Damon Prison, which has become notorious for its harsh conditions.

Female prisoners in Damon have faced continuous abuse, including solitary confinement and physical mistreatment by Israeli prison guards. Their personal belongings have been seized, and they have been denied even the most basic rights, such as communication with their families and children.

Moreover, these women are subjected to a deliberate policy of deprivation. Israeli authorities have implemented a hunger-strike strategy by denying the prisoners access to adequate food supplies through the prison's canteen, instead providing them with meager, low-quality meals.

Medical neglect is also a widespread issue, with Palestinian detainees being deprived of necessary medical care.

The suffering of these women has intensified following the outbreak of the bloody onslaught against Gaza on October 7, 2023.

Furthermore, many women are forced to sleep on the cold floor due to a lack of beds and bedding.

The shortage of clothes and blankets has intensified their discomfort, particularly during the cold winter months, leaving them in the same clothes they were arrested in for extended periods.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk