Gaza Herald- More than 110 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli detention since the far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir assumed the position as Minister of National Security in 2022, marking an unprecedented spike in prisoner deaths over a short period.
According to the Hebrew news site Walla, 110 Palestinian prisoners have lost their lives in Israeli prisons under Ben-Gvir’s tenure. By comparison, between 1967 and 2007, when Ben-Gvir was not in office, 178 prisoners were recorded as deceased in Israeli custody.
Most of the prisoners who died were from Gaza and perished under harsh detention conditions amid ongoing military campaigns against Palestinian prisoners.
The Walla report notes that 32 prisoners died in 2023, rising to 47 in 2024. So far in 2025, 31 deaths have been recorded. Many of the victims were administrative detainees or individuals arrested following the genocidal war on Gaza.
Palestinian human rights organizations warn that hundreds of others remain missing, with no official information about their status.
Ben-Gvir, known for his hardline stances against Palestinians, oversees Israel’s prison system directly. Since taking office, he has implemented strict policies, including the reduction of family visits, tightening the detention conditions, and cutting basic services in prisons.
These measures have drawn criticism from international human rights groups, who describe them as violations of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions that guarantee the rights of prisoners.
Pierre Krähenbühl, director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has warned that Israeli authorities have prevented ICRC personnel from visiting Palestinian prisoners since 7 October 2023, limiting oversight of their health and humanitarian conditions. Despite these restrictions, the ICRC continues efforts to access detainees.
Conditions in Israeli prisons
Human rights organizations, including Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, have documented “tragic” conditions inside Israeli prisons. They cite systemic issues such as severe overcrowding, lack of adequate nutrition, limited or no medical care, prolonged darkness, and widespread physical abuse and torture. These factors have contributed to unusually high mortality rates among Palestinian detainees.
The recent report by the Israeli Attorney General’s office confirms the deteriorating health and hygiene conditions faced by prisoners since the escalation of hostilities in Gaza. Inspectors have observed that some prisoners have become severely underweight, while food rations remain insufficient. Overcrowding, repeated physical abuse, and the spread of diseases exacerbate the dire conditions.
The Israeli Prison Service currently estimates the number of Palestinian prisoners at around 10,000. Reports indicate that detainees are subjected to extreme measures that amount to a war-like campaign inside prisons, including torture, starvation, and neglect of medical care.
According to data from the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Authority and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, the total number of Palestinian prisoners documented as deceased since 1967 has reached 321, with 84 identities confirmed during the recent conflict, including 50 from Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Knesset has passed the first reading of a controversial bill that would impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners. The legislation, backed by far-right figures, must still pass the second and third readings before becoming law, but its advancement marks a significant escalation in Israel’s punitive measures against Palestinians.
