Damon prison horrors: 'Israel' unleashes dogs, gas on female detainees
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Human rights group calls for urgent intervention as reports detail physical assaults and harsh detention conditions for female Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
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Israeli occupation soldiers stand outside Ofer prison near occupied al-Quds on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 (AP)
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society has exposed a series of abuses committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian female detainees in the notorious Damon Prison, documenting four separate incidents during the first half of August in which Palestinian women were subjected to physical and psychological torture.
According to the report, Israeli occupation forces unleashed police dogs, fired tear gas, and carried out degrading practices aimed at breaking the detainees’ morale.
The reported violations took place on August 4, 8, 10, and 14. Testimonies gathered by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society following field visits revealed that Israeli occupation authorities shackled the women, forced them to bow their heads, and paraded them across the prison yard in a deliberately degrading and humiliating manner.
Lack of food, hygiene
Beyond these direct assaults, Palestinian women held in Damon Prison continue to suffer under harsh and degrading conditions. The PPS reported chronic food shortages, poor-quality meals, and rampant infestations that have caused widespread skin diseases, all worsened by suffocating heat, humidity, and inadequate ventilation. Access to basic hygiene and personal care items remains heavily restricted by the Israeli occupation authorities, further compounding the prisoners’ suffering.
The organization called on international human rights and humanitarian bodies to “intervene immediately to halt these violations and ensure the protection of Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli detention.”
At present, 48 Palestinian women remain imprisoned by the Israeli occupation, among them two minors and a pregnant detainee. Human rights groups stress that the latest abuses are not isolated incidents but part of a wider, systematic policy that has escalated since October 2023.
Palestinian prisoners electrocuted, abused in 'Israel's' Gilboa prison
The notoriety of Israeli prisons isn't limited to Damon. Palestinian prisoners and detainees in "Israel's" Gilboa prison are being electrocuted, among more abusive forms of punitive actions, at the facility, the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees' Affairs confirmed earlier this month.
According to a lawyer from the commission who visited the prison, Israeli occupation authorities have increased the use of torture with electricity.
Special repression units storm prisoner sections under the pretext of inspection, handcuff detainees by their wrists and ankles, and force them into the prison yard. There, prisoners are reportedly beaten, insulted, and subjected to electric shocks. They are then dragged across the concrete floors and forced into the shower area, where their clothes and bodies are soaked with water before being electrocuted again, amplifying pain and physical trauma.
The lawyer described the use of specialized stun guns, which double as blunt-force weapons. These are allegedly made of solid metal and have caused severe head injuries, leading to heavy bleeding among detainees. Prison guards were reported to have mocked and laughed during the abuse, with several prisoners losing consciousness due to the severity of the torture.
Neglect of basic needs and health threats
In addition to the physical abuse, prisoners and detainees are reportedly being denied adequate food. The portions provided are minimal, resulting in significant weight loss among detainees. There is also a critical shortage of hygiene supplies and disinfectants, creating a breeding ground for diseases inside overcrowded and poorly ventilated cells.
They are forced to use plastic plates and spoons, each for an entire month, which increases the risk of virus and bacteria transmission with every use. According to the commission, these conditions pose a serious threat to prisoners' health and survival.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office recently revealed similarly harrowing conditions in Naqab prison, where detainees live under constant fear due to relentless transfers and degrading treatment.
The office reported that prisoners are frequently subjected to humiliating searches and forced to kneel with their hands bound behind their backs during daily headcounts and inspections. This ongoing repression has created an atmosphere of instability and psychological torment.
As of early July, the number of Palestinians held in Israeli occupation prisons has risen to approximately 10,800, marking the highest figure since the Second Intifada in 2000. This total does not include detainees held in occupation military camps, whose status remains largely unaccounted for.
