Israel holds Palestinian reporter in lengthy solitary detention

Palestinian journalist Bushra al-Taweel has been held by Israel for nearly 50 days in solitary confinement, the Palestinian Prisoners Club (PPC) said in a statement on Sunday.

Al-Taweel, 33, who was previously released by Israel in January 2025 as part of a prisoner exchange deal, was rearrested in February 2026 and has since been subjected to repeated administrative detention orders.

The journalist is facing frequent raids on her cell, during which she is beaten, subjected to tear gas, and verbal abuse from prison authorities, the PPC said, based on al-Taweel's testimony given during a recent visit. The most recent raid took place two days before the visit.

Al-Taweel reported suffering dryness in her eyes, skin, and hands, as well as numbness in her hands due to being handcuffed. She also suffered from scabies prior to being transferred to solitary confinement, where she is being deprived of basic necessities.

The PPC said prison authorities have provided insufficient food for al-Taweel, while forcing her to drink discoloured tap water. She also reported having few clothes to wear, while also being unable to wash what she has.

Al-Taweel indicated that on 4 October, she signed papers for her transfer to Damon Prison, but was surprised to find herself transferred to solitary confinement at the Ohalei Oz Prison in Beersheba, where she remains detained until today. Israeli authorities renewed her administrative detention order for an additional four months.

The PPC described al-Taweel's treatment by Israel as being part of an escalating policy of systematic targeting of female prisoners through administrative detention, solitary confinement, ill-treatment, and the denial of their basic rights.

The Prisoners Club called upon international human rights groups, particularly the International Committee of the Red Cross, to intervene urgently to investigate al-Taweel's detention conditions.

Al-Taweel, a journalist who has campaigned for the rights of Palestinian prisoners, was first arrested by Israeli forces in 2011 at the age of 18, when she was sentenced to 18 months in prison.