Khaberni - Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), on Saturday, deemed the operations of abuse towards the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli Ofer Prison in the center of the occupied West Bank as a new war crime, calling on the world to take action at all levels to protect them and pursue the occupation.
And on Friday, the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed Ofer Prison near Ramallah, in a visit that saw abuse of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas in a statement mentioned, Israeli media broadcasting the barbaric acts of abuse against the prisoners is considered a blatant challenge to international humanitarian laws concerning prisoners.
The movement regarded the international silence towards what the prisoners are subjected to in Israeli prisons as an encouragement for the occupation to continue its brutal practices inside the prisons, according to its description.
It also considered these practices as an extension of the genocide and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians.
Hamas called on the world’s institutions and governments to stand up to their humanitarian, ethical, and legal responsibilities to stop Israel’s crimes inside the prisons, urging immediate action at all levels to protect the prisoners and pursue the occupation.
According to Channel 7 of Israel, Ben-Gvir and police leadership's raid into Ofer Prison included launching sound grenades in front of the cells of Palestinian prisoners.
During his tour inside the prison, Ben Gvir said the changes made to the prisons are not sufficient, announcing his intention to promote a law for capital punishment against Palestinian prisoners.
Systematic Abuse
In November 2025, the Knesset voted in first reading favorably on a bill proposed by the far-right party "Jewish Power" led by Ben-Gvir.
The law stipulates that "Anyone who, intentionally or unintentionally, causes the death of an Israeli out of racial motives or animosity towards a certain group, and with the intent to harm the state of Israel and the Jewish people in their land, shall be liable to the death penalty."
After passing the bill in the first reading, it must be voted on in the second and third readings before becoming effective, while the Knesset has not yet scheduled this.
Ben Gvir added that he is pleased by what he described as the radical change Israel has made to prison conditions, referring to stricter measures against Palestinian prisoners.
Since taking up his position as Minister of National Security at the end of 2022, the conditions of Palestinian prisoners have rapidly deteriorated, evident in their significant weight loss due to the punitive policies he imposed on departments and prisons.
Repeatedly, Palestinian, Israeli, and international reports have warned about the torture campaigns that prisoners in Israeli jails are subjected to, which have escalated since October 2023 in conjunction with the genocide in Gaza.
Palestinian prisoners, recently released by Israel, have spoken about systematic torture, incidents of rape, starvation, and medical neglect, while their bodies appeared emaciated, and some showed symptoms of mental illnesses due to the acts of abuse.
Over 9300 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, including 350 children, according to Palestinian data as of February 5th this year.
