Inside Israel’s prisons, where Ben-Gvir’s cruelty is policy | Civil Rights
Palestinian photojournalist Muath Amarneh responded critically to a series of videos shared by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, which boast about the conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners. The videos, according to Amarneh, fail to capture the full extent of the suffering endured by inmates, instead showcasing selected clips that emphasize Ben-Gvir’s supposed triumphs.
“When officials like Ben-Gvir visit prisons, the public only sees a curated view,” Amarneh said in an interview. “They don’t show the humiliation and beatings that occur before and after those moments are recorded.”
Ben-Gvir has been under scrutiny for portraying himself as effective in his role. Recently, he posted an AI-generated video that depicted Palestinian detainees entering a facility well-nourished and emerging emaciated, which he later removed amid backlash comparing it to Nazi propaganda.
During a subsequent prison visit, Ben-Gvir encountered female prisoners who reported lack of medical care and poor hygiene conditions. He reportedly responded, “The good conditions in the prisons are over,” asserting his control over the situation.
Reports from human rights organizations highlight the deteriorating conditions inside Israeli prisons. According to Addameer, a Palestinian advocacy group, the number of administrative detainees has risen significantly to approximately 3,200 since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023.
Amarneh, 39, who resides in the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, has been detained multiple times since the onset of hostilities in Gaza. He was first arrested under administrative detention shortly after the conflict intensified and spent nearly nine months imprisoned in Megiddo and Nafha.
His career in journalism has consistently placed him in conflict with Israeli authorities. In 2019, while covering events in Hebron, he was shot in the eye by Israeli forces, leading to significant injury.
Following his release, Amarneh shifted his focus from news reporting to documentary filmmaking to mitigate the risk of re-arrest. However, he was apprehended again in August 2025, and held for eight months without charges. “My crime was working in media,” he stated.
Sahar Francis, executive director of Addameer, criticized Ben-Gvir’s leadership, asserting that while the existing prison system had long been brutal, his tenure has exacerbated conditions. “From his first day overseeing the prison authority, he closed the only two bakeries producing bread for detainees,” Francis noted.
Since the conflict escalated, access to family visits, Red Cross services, and legal representation has been severely restricted, while basic necessities have been confiscated from detainees. Francis reported widespread abuses, including torture, as prisons transformed into increasingly inhospitable environments.
During his two periods of detention, Amarneh reported significant weight loss and described severe conditions within the prisons. He recounted experiences of being denied basic rights, including access to medical care and adequate hygiene, leading to dire health consequences.
“Prisons have become uninhabitable,” Amarneh said. “What was once a challenging environment has devolved into a space where life is impossible.”
Francis highlighted that international human rights organizations, including the United Nations, have ruled Amarneh’s detention unlawful; however, she noted the difficulty in enforcing accountability for such actions within Israel.
Ben-Gvir has publicly asserted his responsibility for prison conditions, which Francis noted could be significant for potential legal cases against him in international forums. “He is at the top of the decision-making pyramid,” she said.
While awaiting his second release, Amarneh was warned that authorities would monitor his activities. Now, he fears further detention and often remains homebound. “For me, being in prison is easier than being outside,” he remarked, underscoring the psychological toll of his ongoing scrutiny.
Amarneh expressed his desire to live peacefully, urging that the broader aim of certain political figures appears to be the removal of Palestinians rather than their coexistence. “I don’t thirst for violence,” he stated. “I want to live in peace, but that’s not the intention of those in power.”
