Israel's Ben-Gvir defends prison conditions after Palestinian detainees allege abuse

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9 days · 4 summary articles
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Sunday released a video of himself visiting a women’s prison where Palestinian detainees complained of harsh conditions, stating he was “pleased” with the treatment and declaring that “the summer camps in the prisons are over.” In the footage, a veiled woman with her face blurred said prisoners had “extremely bad” conditions, no rights, and had not showered or changed underwear in three days, warning of disease. Ben-Gvir responded that Israeli hostages held by Hamas had not enjoyed such conditions, adding, “I am proud that we have reduced the conditions in the prisons for terrorists to the bare minimum” .
The video’s release coincided with a separate incident in the occupied West Bank, where masked Israeli settlers attacked an NBC News crew and a Palestinian woman they were interviewing in Jalud. NBC correspondent Matt Bradley said he was struck twice in the arm, and three journalists required treatment by the Red Crescent, while the woman, Aida Ahmed Abdullah, was hospitalized. The attack followed a pattern of escalating violence, including an earlier incident in Qusra where settlers barricaded themselves in a Palestinian home as residents were present, according to the Israeli army .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare condemnation of the settler violence, calling the acts “criminal” and the work of “a handful of rioters” who damage Israel’s global standing. He demanded the perpetrators be held accountable, though opposition figures, including former Defense Minister Gadi Eisenkot, criticized the government for inaction, with Eisenkot calling the incidents a “disgrace in terms of security, leadership, policy, and values” .
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry reported that Israeli forces had sealed the sole entrance to Al-Mughayyir village for 20 consecutive hours, part of a broader siege it said aimed to displace residents. The Red Crescent also said six Palestinians were injured from tear gas inhalation during an Israeli raid on Al-Faraa refugee camp, as operations were conducted across multiple West Bank cities, including Al-Bireh and Hebron .
In southern Lebanon, the Ali al-Taher Ridge has emerged as a key flashpoint in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, with Israeli forces besieging a fortified underground complex used as a command center for Hezbollah’s Badr Regional Division and Radwan Forces. The Israeli military has employed airstrikes, artillery, and phosphorus munitions to isolate the site, while Hezbollah fighters have used explosive-laden drones and anti-tank missiles in response. Washington has proposed designating the ridge as a “pilot zone” for Lebanese Armed Forces deployment, but Hezbollah has rejected any handover .
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