RAMALLAH, March 20, 2025 (WAFA) – 14 Palestinian mothers are currently held in Israeli prisons, deprived of the right to be with their children, according to a joint statement marking the Arab Mother’s Day, shedding light on the dire conditions faced by Palestinian mothers detained by Israeli forces.
The statement was released by the Palestinian Prisoners Society, the Palestinian Detainees' Committee, and the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, which emphasized that the 14 mothers, along with 25 other Palestinian women detainees, continue to suffer in harsh conditions in Israeli jails, with their children losing the opportunity to be nurtured and comforted by them.
The organizations described the recent months as some of the most brutal and deadly for Palestinian women, with violations against them escalating dramatically. These Israeli violations coincide with the ongoing Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people.
Escalating detention of Palestinian women and mothers
According to the joint statement, since the start of the ongoing war in Gaza, Israel has detained around 500 Palestinian women, many of whom are mothers. Some of these women were detained as hostages to pressure other family members into surrendering, demonstrating the lengths to which Israeli forces are willing to go in their attempts to control the population.
The situation for Palestinian mothers is particularly tragic, with their detention often occurring in the middle of the night, when Israeli soldiers raid homes violently. Mothers are dragged away from their children under the threat of gunfire, creating scenes of emotional and physical trauma. These detentions mark the beginning of a prolonged nightmare for these women, as their suffering continues through harsh transportation and interrogation processes, where they are subjected to psychological and physical abuse.
Conditions in Israeli detention centers and interrogation facilities
Following their detention, Palestinian women are often transferred to Israeli interrogation centers, where they endure further abuse. They are forced to stand for long hours under inhumane conditions, deprived of food, sleep, and basic human dignity. They face constant threats of violence aimed at coercing confessions or obtaining information. Many of these women are also denied access to legal representation, adding to the emotional and psychological toll of their imprisonment.
Damon Prison: A harsh reality for Palestinian women detainees
The majority of Palestinian women prisoners are held in the Damon Prison, which has become notorious for its harsh conditions. The suffering of these women has only intensified since October 7, 2023, following the outbreak of the Israeli genocidal war. Female prisoners in Damon have faced continuous abuse, including solitary confinement and physical mistreatment by Israeli prison guards. Their personal belongings have been seized, and they have been denied even the most basic rights, such as communication with their families and children.
Moreover, these women are subjected to a deliberate policy of deprivation. The Israeli authorities have implemented a hunger-strike strategy by denying the prisoners access to adequate food supplies through the prison's canteen, instead providing them with meager, low-quality meals. Medical neglect is also a widespread issue, with Palestinian detainees being deprived of necessary medical care.
The overcrowded conditions in the prison exacerbate the suffering, with many women being forced to sleep on the cold floor due to a lack of beds and bedding. The shortage of clothes and blankets has intensified their discomfort, particularly during the cold winter months, leaving them in the same clothes they were arrested in for extended periods.
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