Ramallah: A Palestinian rights group has accused Israeli prison authorities of systematically torturing detainees with electric shocks and other forms of abuse, highlighting a troubling pattern of physical and psychological cruelty within the prison system.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs reported significant deterioration in conditions at Gilboa Prison in northern Israel. Special units have reportedly stormed prisoner sections under the pretext of inspections, during which detainees are handcuffed, forcibly removed from their cells, and subjected to intense beatings and electric shocks. Testimonies from a lawyer who recently visited the prison describe prisoners being dragged across wet shower floors and targeted with stun guns, exacerbating their pain.

The commission detailed instances of severe physical abuse, indicating that the electric shocks are intended to break the prisoners' spirits, with some losing consciousness and others suffering head wounds. Scenes of alleged humiliation were also described, with Israeli guards reportedly laughing at bloodied detainees.

Additionally, the commission reported severe food deprivation, noting that prisoners receive minimal portions, leading to rapid weight loss. In a separate statement, commission head Raed Abu al-Hummus expressed concern over worsening conditions in Ofer Prison near Ramallah, where detainees face increasing psychological pressure intended to undermine their morale and mental stability. He urged international human rights groups to intervene, stressing that silence only enables further abuse.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, over 10,800 Palestinians have been imprisoned by Israel as of early August, including women, children, and individuals labeled as "unlawful combatants." This figure does not include detainees held in military camps or prisoners from Lebanon and Syria.

Since the onset of Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, over 1,013 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers, according to the Health Ministry. The International Court of Justice declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal in a July advisory opinion, calling for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.