Israeli prisons overcrowded with Palestinians

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel said Tuesday that it is struggling to find locations to house Palestinians amid overcrowding in cells due to widespread arrests in the occupied West Bank and Gaza since Oct. 7.

''It is expected that 888 additional places for detention will be added in seven prisons over the coming months, utilizing public spaces such as canteens and dining rooms,'' said a report presented by the Israeli Prison Service to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, to discuss solutions following prison overcrowding, the local newspaper Calcalist reported.

''Around 91% of Palestinian prisoners are currently held in conditions that do not meet the Supreme Court's requirement of providing the minimum living space,'' it said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli organization Physicians for Human Rights revealed dozens of testimonies regarding Israeli violations including beatings, mistreatment, sexual insults and medical neglect of Palestinian detainees since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza.

It emphasized that the severe violence inflicted on Palestinian detainees amounts to the definition of torture according to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio