Economist: Ben Gvir Transforms Israeli Prisons into Repression Centers Under Netanyahu's Cover

A recent report by the British magazine "The Economist" highlighted the severe deterioration in the conditions of Israeli prisons since the National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, took office. The report indicated that the extremist minister openly boasts about the system of repression and starvation he imposes on detainees, using the suffering of prisoners as a platform for his Jewish Power party's election propaganda.

The magazine cited a video clip published by Ben Gvir himself, in which he is seen mocking activists from the Freedom Flotilla who were arrested in international waters. The activists appeared in the video handcuffed and forced to kneel in Ashdod port, while the minister addressed them with condescending remarks, saying: "We are the masters of the land," amidst encouraging officers to continue abusing the detainees.

Although these scenes sparked a wave of international condemnation from Western governments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reaction did not go beyond verbal reprimand. Netanyahu considered his minister's actions inconsistent with what he described as "Israel's values," but he refrained from taking any punitive action or threatening to dismiss him from his post.

The report affirmed that Ben Gvir is fully aware of Netanyahu's political need for him, which gives him a green light to overlook his extremist actions. Since Netanyahu's return to power in 2022, Ben Gvir has become a key pillar in the government coalition, having received the National Security portfolio as a reward for his political support.

Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, Ben Gvir has initiated widespread retaliatory measures, including stripping prisoners of their most basic belongings and reducing food rations. The Israeli Supreme Court described these food portions as insufficient for the minimum requirements of human life, leading to severe emaciation among those released.

The magazine quoted the organization "Physicians for Human Rights" with shocking data indicating the death of at least 98 Palestinian prisoners during the first two years of the war. The organization attributes these deaths to severe beatings, systematic deprivation of medical treatment, and prevention of Red Cross and lawyer visits.

In a move to consolidate his control, Ben Gvir prevented legal inspections of prisons mandated by Israeli law, replacing them with tours for journalists loyal to him. The aim of these tours is to portray prisoners in humiliating situations, handcuffed for long hours under the influence of loud music intended to break their morale.

On the judicial front, the report revealed an almost complete absence of legal accountability for deaths inside prisons, as authorities opened only very limited investigations. These investigations resulted in only one indictment, reinforcing the policy of impunity enjoyed by prison service and army personnel.

The report touched upon the incident at the "Sde Teiman" camp, where five soldiers were accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee in July 2024. However, the case ended with the dismissal of the military prosecutor who initiated the file, and the charges against the implicated soldiers were later dropped.

Instead of investigating these crimes, Netanyahu chose to attack the parties that exposed them, describing the video leaks as a "blood libel" against the army. He also threatened to sue the "New York Times" after it published detailed reports of sexual assaults, even though the newspaper stood by the accuracy of its documented information.

Political data indicates that Ben Gvir will continue in his position without any real obstacles, given that Netanyahu's political future depends on the support of the far-right. This was clearly demonstrated when Netanyahu rejected an offer from the opposition to join an emergency government in exchange for Ben Gvir's dismissal, preferring to maintain his current coalition.

Even when Ben Gvir temporarily resigned in January 2025 in protest of a short truce, Netanyahu kept the National Security portfolio vacant awaiting his return. This behavior reflects the extent of Ben Gvir's influence within the Israeli government and his ability to impose his extremist agenda unchecked.

Observers believe that Netanyahu's need to win the upcoming elections outweighs any considerations related to international norms or human rights. Staying in power requires satisfying the far-right's electoral base, which views Ben Gvir's practices as necessary "firmness" towards Palestinians.

"The Economist" concluded in its report that responsibility for the serious violations in prisons lies with both Ben Gvir and Netanyahu. While the former directly practices repression, the latter provides the necessary political and legal cover for these crimes to continue away from international accountability.

Welcome to Israel, we are the masters of the land.