Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has publicly endorsed and taken responsibility for the severe conditions faced by Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons. He posted a video on his X account on Sunday, showing his visit to a section of a prison holding female detainees.

During the visit, Ben-Gvir confronted prisoners who were complaining about their treatment. One detainee stated they had not showered in three days and were not receiving adequate medical care or clean clothing. Ben-Gvir responded by asserting that "good conditions in the prisons are over" and that he was "directly responsible for everything" and "pleased with these conditions."

In his accompanying social media post, the minister dismissed the prisoners' complaints as "whining" and drew a parallel to Israeli captives held in Gaza, suggesting they had not experienced good conditions. He declared his intention to "continue to lead a policy of the bare minimum of the minimum."

Palestinian groups have strongly condemned Ben-Gvir's actions and remarks. Gaza's Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs described the video as an act of "intimidation and humiliation" and a "political spectacle" designed to incite and break the will of the female prisoners. They characterized his statements as evidence of a systematic policy of retaliation involving "humiliation, torture, starvation and deprivation."

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society echoed these sentiments, calling Ben-Gvir's filming and dissemination of the footage "an assault on their human dignity." The organization stated that numerous testimonies from former detainees and current prisoners have documented significant abuses within Israeli detention facilities.

Since assuming the role of national security minister in late 2022, Ben-Gvir has actively advocated for stricter measures against Palestinian prisoners. These have included reducing food and water rations, limiting family visits, cutting down shower times, and removing privileges. He has also been involved in the transfer of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners between different facilities.

Ben-Gvir has a history of opposing improvements to prisoner conditions. In 2025, he publicly rejected efforts aimed at enhancing the living standards for those incarcerated.

The minister's actions and statements have intensified concerns among human rights organizations regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. The harsh stance reflects a broader political agenda focused on punitive measures rather than rehabilitation or humane treatment.