In brief
On Sunday, the Arab League urged the international community to investigate claims that Palestinian prisoners from Gaza suffering injuries in the Rakevet section of Ramla Jail were subjected to systemic abuse. It demanded unrestricted access for the International Committee of the Red Cross, medical treatment for the wounded and immediate release of those ill. The call highlights violations of humanitarian law and calls for accountability.
The Arab League, based in Cairo, issued a statement on Sunday, November 2, 2026, calling for an independent international investigation into serious allegations of torture and systemic abuse against Palestinian prisoners from the Gaza Strip being held at Israel’s Ramla Prison. The plea comes after reports that detainees in the prison’s Rakevet section had suffered injuries, burns and other physical harm due to repeated acts of repression and mistreatment.
According to the statement, several detainees in the Rakevet section were shown to have visible injuries consistent with beatings and the use of harsh restraints. They reported having been struck with batons, exposed to tear gas and pepper spray, and hit with rubber bullets and stun grenades. Authorities alleged the injuries were a result of routine security procedures, but the Arab League maintains that the actions amount to torture.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office, which monitors conditions of Palestinian detainees, added a separate report published on October 24, 2026, detailing the repeated assaults carried out against individuals held in the same section. That office described the mistreatment as systematic and ongoing, noting that the injuries observed were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of abuse.
In an accompanying note, the office cited that as of October 2026 a total of between 9,350 and 9,400 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were being held in Israeli jails. The figure underscores the scale of the detention situation and the importance of addressing the conditions faced by those individuals.
The Arab League’s statement further urges the International Committee of the Red Cross and other independent monitoring bodies to be granted unrestricted access to the prison. It stresses that such access is essential for an impartial assessment of the treatment of detainees and for ensuring compliance with international humanitarian standards.
In addition to calling for a full investigation, the League demands immediate medical care for those injured. It specifically requests that sick and wounded prisoners be released without delay to receive necessary treatment, arguing that prisoners’ health should not be used as a means of coercion.
The League also characterized the alleged abuses as violations of international humanitarian law and “crimes against humanity.” It notes that such allegations carry profound legal implications and demand accountability from those responsible for the detention and treatment of the prisoners.
In its appeal, the Arab League calls on the international community, including the United Nations and other relevant bodies, to take decisive action to protect Palestinian prisoners and to end what it sees as impunity in the system. It concludes that a comprehensive and independent probe is essential to address these serious allegations and to safeguard the rights and dignity of all detainees.
