Hunger, Medical Neglect and Abuse: Conditions of Female Palestinian Prisoners Deteriorate in Damon Prison

The Commission of Detainees’ Affairs has warned of a severe deterioration in the health and living conditions of Palestinian women held in the notorious Israeli prison of Damon, citing a systematic policy of starvation, denial of medical treatment, physical abuse and psychological torture. These practices have placed the prisoners’ lives and safety at serious risk. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the commission highlighted the testimonies of two female prisoners, shedding light on the appalling conditions faced by women detainees amid the denial of essential medical care, drastic reductions in food rations, severe restrictions on movement and deprivation of basic living rights.

The testimony of Hanaa Mohammad Hassan al-Bidq, who has been detained since September 7, 2025, revealed that her health has deteriorated due to the lack of specialised medical care. She was suffering from a thyroid condition before her arrest and required regular medical examinations to determine the appropriate dosage of her medication. However, she has not been examined by a thyroid specialist since her detention. Al-Bidq has also been suffering from a skin condition since last July but has not received the necessary treatment, leaving her with persistent itching and severe pain. Furthermore, inadequate nutrition, insufficient food and the poor nutritional value of meals have caused her weight to fall to just 42 kilograms since she was transferred to the prison.

Regarding incidents of abuse inside the prison, the commission reported that on October 28, Al-Bidq and her fellow female detainees were subjected to severe violence by Yamaz forces, affiliated with the Israeli prison administration, with the participation of a prison officer. The women had their hands tied behind their backs and their eyes blindfolded. They were beaten, toxic gas was released inside their cells, and they were subjected to verbal abuse and degrading insults. There are currently 82 female prisoners held in Damon Prison, while female detainee Bushra al-Taweel is being held in solitary confinement outside the prison. According to the commission's report, the women are suffering from poor-quality food and severely inadequate rations. They are also not provided with a fixed schedule for access to the prison yard and are allowed outside for no more than half an hour.

The commission also documented the deteriorating health of Saja Daraghmeh, who has been detained since January 22, 2026. She suffers from severe migraine headaches and impaired vision. She has also been experiencing a skin condition since last July and continues to endure persistent pain and itching due to the denial of necessary medical treatment. According to the latest figures released by Palestinian prisoners' institutions, between 9,350 and 9,400 Palestinian detainees and prisoners were being held in Israeli prisons by the end of October 2026. They include approximately 88 female prisoners, more than 350 children and around 3,100 people held under administrative detention without formal charges or trial.

These developments come amid an escalation in abuses against Palestinian prisoners since October 7, 2023. The reported violations include torture, starvation, medical neglect, solitary confinement and denial of family visits. Meanwhile, the number of identified Palestinian prisoners who have died in Israeli custody since the beginning of the war has reached 92, including 53 detainees from Gaza, according to an October 2026 report by the Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office.