Israel's Supreme Court Orders Improved Conditions for Palestinian Detainees

Tue Sep 30 2025 09:42:29 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a landmark ruling, Israel’s Supreme Court mandates enhanced food and living conditions for Palestinian inmates, amidst ongoing international scrutiny of the country's war practices.

In a significant legal ruling, the Israeli Supreme Court has instructed the government to improve food quality and quantity for Palestinian detainees, acknowledging that the current policies do not meet basic humanitarian standards. This decision comes amid allegations of systemic malnutrition and poor living conditions in Israeli detention facilities, a situation worsened by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The ruling highlights a rare instance of judicial intervention in a time of war, reflecting concerns over human rights in the context of the ongoing conflict.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — In a landmark ruling, Israel’s Supreme Court has mandated that the Israeli government must improve the food and living conditions for Palestinian detainees, recognizing an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The court's decision came on Sunday and was seen as a rare exercise of legal restraint during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has prompted international scrutiny of Israel's policies.

The ruling came in response to complaints from human rights organizations, which highlighted the severe conditions faced by thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Reports from released detainees have revealed accounts of overcrowding, insufficient food supplies, inadequate medical care, and rampant health issues including scabies outbreaks.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, Israel has detained many Palestinians, often without charges, as part of its military response. This has resulted in thousands languishing in detention facilities under dire conditions, with allegations of malnutrition and starvation surfacing regularly.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Israeli government has a legal responsibility to provide Palestinian detainees with three meals a day to maintain a basic level of existence. The judges expressed that failing to meet these obligations would diminish Israel's moral standing.

Despite the ruling, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for his ultra-nationalist stance, condemned the decision, suggesting that it undermines Israeli security while promising to continue enforcing minimal standards in prisoner conditions.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), which initiated the legal proceedings, called for immediate implementation of the ruling and condemned the treatment of detainees as tantamount to torture. They asserted that starvation under any pretext should not be tolerated.

This ruling represents a significant moment in the legal landscape of war claims and humanitarian rights, as Israel navigates the complex dynamics of conflict, national security, and human rights obligations.