Ben Gvir 'proud' of reducing detention conditions for Palestinian female prisoners

Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced in a video posted after his visit to the Damaon prison near Haifa that he is “proud” of the reduced detention conditions for Palestinian women in Israeli prisons.

Ben-Gvir appeared in the clip, which he shared via his social media accounts, speaking to three female detainees from the Islamic Jihad movement during a prison visit that took place weeks ago, according to a statement from his party, Jewish Power.

Speaking to the detainees in Hebrew while a woman provided translation, he said, “I am proud that we have reduced your detention conditions to the bare minimum necessary... The conditions of summer camps that existed in Israeli prisons have ended. This is the situation in which you will live, and I am responsible for everything.”

He added, “Anyone who harms my brothers (referring to the hostages) will not receive conditions akin to those in a hotel... Islamic Jihad has held our hostages.”

The far-right minister asked the detainees about their conditions, to which one replied that they were “very bad. There is repression day and night... This is the third day we have not showered, we have not changed our underwear, diseases are rampant, and we do not receive any treatment at all.”

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club viewed Ben-Gvir’s appearance in the women’s ward, filming the detainees, and the subsequent publication of the footage as an assault on their human dignity.

The far-right minister has routinely boasted in his videos about his harsh treatment of peace activists and Palestinian prisoners in prisons, where more than 9,500 Palestinian detainees are held, including approximately 90 women.