Israel is being accused of holding dozens of Palestinians from Gaza in the underground "Rakefet" prison, a facility without natural light, where detainees face lack of food, total isolation and inhumane treatment.
The reports were made public by lawyers from the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), who have visited prisoners and documented the extreme conditions at this high-security institution. According to them, prisoners are held in conditions of physical and psychological degradation, without contact with family members, without lighting, with insufficient food and a complete lack of medical care.
Those detained reportedly include a 34-year-old nurse and an 18-year-old boy, who were held for months without formal charges or trial. They have confessed to being raped, tortured and forced to endure lack of air and food in confined underground spaces.
Rakefet Prison has a long and dark history. It was built in the 1980s to hold dangerous criminals, but was later closed due to inhumane conditions. However, in 2023, after the October 7 attacks, the facility was reactivated on the orders of far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and has been used to detain Palestinians from Gaza ever since.
Currently, according to PCATI sources, this prison holds about 100 prisoners, although the initial capacity was only for 15 people. Lawyers who have entered its premises describe the prison as an underground structure, without windows, with heavy air and inadequate ventilation, where the cells are dirty and under constant surveillance. According to testimonies, prisoners are allowed out only for a few minutes a day, without any contact with the outside world or with their families.
The PCATI Committee has reacted strongly, calling this treatment a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and has warned that deprivation of sunlight, lack of food, and total isolation constitute clear forms of torture.
On the other hand, the Israel Prison Service has stated that it “acts in accordance with the law” and that it “treats all detainees according to national security standards.” However, the authorities have not provided any concrete answers about the identity, number, and condition of the detainees currently held at Rakefet prison.
