Israel has increased its arrests in Palestine, with nearly 10,000 Palestinians now in prison, up from about 9,300 recently. This comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where 15 people were detained on Saturday night. The Palestinian Commission for Prisoners’ Affairs condemned these actions, highlighting the case of Rami Abu Mustafa, who died in Gaza after allegedly being severely tortured during his detention.
Mustafa, described as a victim of “medical crimes” and prolonged starvation while imprisoned, suffered from mental health issues and was reportedly shot multiple times by Israeli forces before his arrest. His case underscores broader concerns about the treatment of Palestinian detainees, many of whom are held indefinitely without charges.
Among the prisoners are two pregnant women, Jihad Nakhlah and Aysha Ghidan, who are facing deteriorating conditions including reported sexual harassment by Israeli guards. The situation for female detainees has allegedly worsened since October 7, 2023, according to the commission.
Over 3,400 Palestinians are currently held under “administrative detention,” a practice denounced by human rights groups like Amnesty International as allowing Israel to detain individuals without charge or trial, which they equate to kidnapping. Amnesty International has documented instances of severe abuse and torture of Palestinian detainees, including beatings and humiliation, a practice that predates recent escalations in the conflict.
Additionally, Israeli forces have targeted journalists and healthcare workers in Gaza, continuing a trend of detaining individuals perceived as threats or collaborators. These actions have drawn international scrutiny and condemnation from human rights organizations, who argue that such practices violate international law and exacerbate tensions in the region.