As part of the Palestinian Center for Prisoners’ Advocacy’s efforts to document the grave violations faced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons, we begin publishing a series of separate testimonies from a number of Jerusalemite prisoners. These testimonies reveal shocking accounts of systematic torture and abuse amid an unprecedented deterioration in detention conditions since October 7, 2023.
These testimonies shed light on the brutal reality inside Israeli prisons and document the occupation authorities’ violations of the most basic principles of international humanitarian law, particularly the Convention Against Torture, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Documentation Methodology
The testimonies were collected from reliable primary sources, including field reports issued by human rights organizations such as B’Tselem and Addameer, in addition to direct interviews with released prisoners. Each testimony was documented individually, with care taken to respect the privacy of the victims.
Testimony No. 1: Prisoner “Z.A” – Jerusalem
Name withheld to protect the prisoner from Israeli retaliation
Arrest Date: October 12, 2023 – Release Date: End of March 2024
“They didn’t bring me any food or water… I heard screaming and crying—it seemed they were torturing other detainees. When they searched me, they ordered me to strip completely, and the guard slapped me each time I removed a piece of clothing. After I took off my shoes, he hit me on the head with them. They searched me while I was completely naked and deliberately humiliated me.”
Documented Violations:
-
Forced stripping and repeated slapping during searches.
-
Confiscation of Qur’ans and prayer rugs, which were stepped on.
-
Denial of sufficient water and hygiene, leading to outbreaks of skin and digestive diseases.
-
Severe malnutrition causing major health issues.
-
Daily beatings and humiliation during headcounts.
“I spent seven years in prison before, but I’ve never experienced such degradation… this was the harshest ordeal I’ve ever faced.”
Testimony No. 2: Prisoner “N.H” – Jerusalem
Name withheld to protect the prisoner from Israeli retaliation
Arrest Date: 2021 – Release Date: February 2023
Testimony regarding events after October 7, 2023:
“Twenty male guards stormed our cell and beat us for half an hour. They confiscated everything—food, devices, fans. They cut off electricity… and sprayed pepper spray in the cell, causing severe suffocation. Then they shackled us with metal cuffs.”
Documented Violations:
-
Repeated male invasions of women’s cells with no regard for privacy or modesty.
-
Excessive use of force and pepper spray in confined spaces.
-
Collective punishment: bans on cooking, spoiled food provided.
-
Denial of family visits and medical treatment; electricity cut off continuously.
“We weren’t allowed to wear the hijab during raids. They barged in forcefully… One of the guards openly said: ‘We’ve been given the green light to do whatever we want to you.'”
Testimony No. 3: Prisoner “S.B” – Jerusalem
Name withheld to protect the prisoner from Israeli retaliation
Arrest Date: April 2021 – Release Date: March 2024
“After October 7, everything changed. The prison situation became disastrous. We were only allowed to shower every three days, for just three minutes. We weren’t allowed outside in the sun. The food was rotten and uncooked. I was given three spoons of half-cooked rice and foul-smelling spoiled eggs.”
Documented Violations:
-
Near-total deprivation of showers and sunlight.
-
Medical neglect used as punishment (e.g., untreated nail fungus, only given basic painkillers like Acamol).
-
Confiscation of all supplies: pillows, sheets, heaters, fans.
-
Systematic collective punishments affecting all basic services.
“They left only one blanket per prisoner in the cell… We were completely isolated, with no contact with the outside world—or even with our own bodies.”
Compelling Evidence
These testimonies constitute solid evidence of systematic torture and deliberate neglect perpetrated by the Israeli prison authorities against Palestinian prisoners from Jerusalem. These acts amount to clear violations of international human rights law, especially:
-
Convention Against Torture (1984)
-
Fourth Geneva Convention (1949)
-
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998)
The Palestinian Center for Prisoners’ Advocacy affirms that these testimonies will be published progressively in a dedicated dossier, which will include full documentation for each case—names, photographs, dates of arrest—in preparation for:
-
Compiling a comprehensive legal file to be submitted to the relevant international organizations.
-
Launching an international media and human rights advocacy campaign to spotlight the occupation’s crimes against prisoners—especially women, children, and Jerusalemite detainees.
