How Israel's abuse of Palestinian prisoners escalated after 7 October

The moment Israel began the genocide in Gaza, a parallel war has unfolded in the shadows: the systematic torture of Palestinian prisoners, in some cases, to death.

While the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons has long been documented by human rights organisations, the abuses have sharply escalated since the onset of the war on 7 October 2023. 

Arrests, deaths in custody, and allegations of abuse have all surged to record levels.

Both international and Israeli human rights groups have condemned the abuses, with B'Tselem referring to Israeli prisons as “torture camps”.

Nearly two years into the Gaza genocide, fresh reports of torture and deaths in custody continue to emerge from Israeli detention centres.

Read more: How Israel's abuse of Palestinian prisoners escalated after 7 October