Since late 2022, Israeli prisons have faced a significant escalation in repressiveness following the assumption of Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right figure, as Minister of National Security. His tenure has been marked by a series of oppressive policies that include famine, isolation, and violations of human dignity towards Palestinian prisoners. Recently, the passage of a legislative push for death penalties for prisoners has significantly intensified the climate of fear and control across various facilities.

On February 13, 2026, Ben Gvir personally conducted a raid on the cells of prisoners at Ofer Prison, situated near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Accompanied by the Director of the Prison Service, he allegedly physically assaulted Palestinian inmates, reportedly stepping on their heads. This incident was part of a broader, aggressive crackdown orchestrated by elite units within the prison, enabled by this significant political support, with media coverage amplifying the severity of the actions taken against the inmates.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club has voiced serious concerns about the systematic violations occurring within these facilities. A lawyer representing the Club gathered testimonies from prisoners in section 26 of the facility, highlighting that the raid occurred during the evening security check and involved the use of police dogs and explosive sound grenades, leaving a trail of psychological and physical distress among the inmates. The continued insistence by Ben Gvir to circulate videos documenting this brutal crackdown signals a troubling direction in the treatment of Palestinian prisoners under his administration.