NGO demands release of three pregnant women held in "tragic" conditions by Israel

The Society of Palestinian Prisoners (SPP) has issued an urgent appeal for international intervention to secure the release of three pregnant Palestinian women held in Israel's Damon prison under what the organization describes as "harsh and tragic" conditions.

The detained women are Amina Al Tawil, 37, four months pregnant from Qalqilya; Dana Yudeh, 35, five months pregnant from Nablus; and Manar Ibrahim, 28, four months pregnant from Ramallah. According to the SPP, they were arrested between March and April, a period marked by a significant increase in the number of Palestinian women detained by Israeli authorities.

These three women are among the 93 Palestinian female prisoners currently held in Israeli jails, primarily in Damon. The SPP reports they are kept in isolation, with access to family or International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visits suspended since the conflict in Gaza began. Their detention in Damon follows interrogations and a prior stay at Hasharon prison, which the SPP characterizes as a temporary detention center.

Testimonies gathered by the SPP indicate severe mistreatment during interrogations and at Hasharon, including intimate body searches, which the organization states is a common practice against detainees. Prisoners face intensified punitive measures such as food shortages, medical neglect, and constant psychological pressure. Pregnant prisoners reportedly receive no special consideration, with some undergoing severe interrogations in unsanitary cells, leading to significant weight loss, malnutrition, and exhaustion.

The SPP asserts that these conditions constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, which mandates special protection and medical care for pregnant women. The organization also noted that Israeli authorities have arrested over 765 women since the war began, including minors, elderly individuals, medical professionals, lawyers, journalists, and activists, many under administrative detention or accused of online incitement.