West Bank Rallies Against "Slow Death" Treatment of Palestinian Detainees

Cities across the West Bank witnessed a surge of coordinated protests on Tuesday, as prisoner advocacy groups and national factions rallied against what they describe as a "slow death policy" targeting Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. The demonstrations, held outside International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) offices, aimed to pressure the international community to intervene in the face of escalating humanitarian crises within the prison system.

Protesters in Ramallah, Hebron, and Tulkarm carried portraits of detainees and banners condemning the silence of international organizations. Families of prisoners reported being denied any information or visitation rights for over two years, a situation exacerbated since the events of October 2023.

Widespread Allegations of Abuse The Palestinian Prisoners' Club described Israeli prisons as "disaster zones," citing systematic reports of torture, starvation, and medical neglect. Advocacy groups warned that conditions have reached an unprecedented low, with rising fears over proposed legislation that could facilitate the execution of prisoners.

In Hebron, where a high number of female detainees are held, families shared harrowing accounts of released prisoners whose physical states revealed severe malnutrition and physical abuse. Witnesses also reported that legal protections are being systematically dismantled, with many detainees denied access to lawyers or subjected to violence during transfers.

A Call for Urgent Intervention Protest leaders emphasized that the current trajectory is a "silent death" for thousands of detainees, particularly those from Gaza who face total isolation. The demonstrations issued a direct challenge to the ICRC to fulfill its humanitarian mandate, demanding the immediate resumption of prison visits and the opening of facilities to independent international oversight to prevent a "looming explosion" of violence both inside and outside prison walls.