Ramallah: The Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) has reported a significant increase in the arrest of women by Israeli authorities, describing it as a systematic and ongoing campaign targeting female detainees.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the PPS revealed that the number of female prisoners surged to 90 in April. This number parallels figures only seen during mass arrests in the early phases of the conflict. The organization highlighted that most of these women are detained in Damon Prison, which includes a diverse group such as two minors, a pregnant woman in her third month, 25 administrative detainees, three journalists, two cancer patients, and two women who were detained prior to the conflict's escalation.
The PPS further noted the harsh conditions faced by these female prisoners. They endure starvation, deprivation, medical neglect, and abuse, with additional challenges like solitary confinement and strip searches. The society pointed out that arrests are frequently based on allegations of "incitement."
The report also mentioned that over 700 women have been arrested since the war began, including those from the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the 1948 territories. However, there is a lack of precise statistics on arrests in Gaza. The PPS underscored that this increase in female detentions occurs during a particularly violent period for Palestinian women, highlighting ongoing serious violations, including physical and sexual assaults, as well as the detention of women as leverage against their families.
