Israel's Secret Detention Facility: Palestinian Prisoners Face Indefinite Isolation and Abuse

Dozens of Palestinian prisoners are being held indefinitely in an underground Israeli detention facility, deprived of sunlight and subjected to extreme violence, Palestinian lawyers say. The facility, located in the Ramla (Nitzan) prison complex in central Israel, has been the site of widespread abuse, including beatings and sexual violence, according to freed Palestinian detainees. Lawyers for Palestinians held at Rakevet, the underground wing of the Ramla prison complex, reported that their clients have been assaulted, starved, and denied medical care despite serious injuries. "When the prisoners arrive for the interview with their lawyer, their faces show what they've endured," lawyer Nadia Daqqa told Al Jazeera. "They have been subjected to physical and psychological torture, and some have even been forced to sign false confessions." The allegations of abuse come as more reports of mistreatment emerge from the devastation of Israel's war on Gaza. Palestinian lawyers say that the conditions in Rakevet are particularly harsh, with prisoners being held in isolation and denied access to sunlight or fresh air. "The Israeli authorities are using every means at their disposal to break the spirits of these prisoners," said Daqqa. "They are being subjected to extreme violence, and some have even been forced to undergo humiliating and degrading treatment." The background of the situation is complex, with many Palestinian prisoners being held without charge or trial. According to human rights groups, Israel has been holding thousands of Palestinians in detention without due process, often using the pretext of security concerns to justify the arrests. The Israeli government has maintained that the detentions are necessary to prevent terrorist attacks, but critics argue that the practice is a form of collective punishment and a violation of international law. Human rights organizations have condemned the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention facilities, calling for an immediate investigation into the allegations of abuse. "The Israeli authorities must take immediate action to address the systemic abuse of Palestinian prisoners," said a spokesperson for Amnesty International. "This includes providing access to medical care, ending the use of solitary confinement, and ensuring that prisoners are treated with dignity and respect." The situation in Rakevet is part of a broader pattern of human rights abuses in Israel, including the use of excessive force against Palestinian protesters and the demolition of Palestinian homes. As the situation continues to unfold, many are calling for greater accountability and action from the international community to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.