Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir has made the cells of Palestinian women detainees into a political forum, producing a video clip in which he visits Damon Prison and claims he is “directly responsible for harsher detention conditions and [is] pleased with the results.” Released on 30 August 2026, this video depicts Ben Gvir visiting the women’s wing of the prison, hearing their complaints regarding hygiene, medical treatment, and their rights in general, and then answering them in a mocking way by comparing them to hostages held by Israel in Gaza. This was not just one-time provocation; it represents a new strategy of governance and election season campaign for votes.
A Minister in the Cells: What the Video Shows
In the video, one can see the entry of Ben Gvir to the women’s wing of Damon prison. The women prisoners who are veiled in the video have their faces blotted out in the publicly released clip. In one of the videos, a woman explains that the situation in the prison is “very bad” and that we don’t
“have any of our basic rights as women,”
according to several reports of the incident. Another woman says that there have been no showers in the past three days, no change of underwear, and that disease is spreading because of poor hygiene. Some other prisoners say there is no water in the cells, no medical help, filthy clothes, and continuous intrusion of guards “day and night.”
Ben Gvir’s response is immediate and unapologetic. In the video he declares,
“The good conditions that existed in the prisons are over.”
He then adds,
“This is the current situation, and I am directly responsible for everything, and I am pleased with these conditions.”
His office later described the women as female Islamic Jihad “terrorists,” framing them as security threats rather than ordinary prisoners and justifying the punitive approach.
“Summer Camps Are Over”: The Rhetoric of Punishment
Ben Gvir did not stop at claiming responsibility; he explicitly celebrated the tightening of conditions. In statements attached to the video and in remarks reported by his office, he said,
“I am proud that we have succeeded in reducing the terrorists’ prison conditions to the bare minimum.”
He repeated a slogan that has become central to his messaging on Palestinian detainees:
“The summer camps in the prisons are over,”
sometimes phrased as
“The prison kindergartens are over.”
He also invoked the plight of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza since October 2023 to deflect criticism.
“Our hostages had no shampoo and had no such conditions,”
he said, positioning Palestinian prisoners’ complaints as illegitimate whining. In an X post, he wrote,
“The ‘whining’ of the terrorists about the conditions in the prisons doesn’t work on me.”
A statement attributed to his office sharpened the tone further:
“We are not apologizing; anyone who harms Israeli civilians will not receive a kindergarten in prison,”
and
“Terrorists, both male and female, will receive the minimum required by law, and nothing beyond that.”
The language is not accidental; it is designed to recast basic hygiene and medical care as privileges that “terrorists” no longer deserve.
Why Women Prisoners, and Why Now?
The selection of the women’s wing carries political and symbolic weight, as Palestinian women security prisoners have always been the object of particular attention in the larger story of resistance and suppression, as their imprisonment has been portrayed by factions and organizations as the practice of collective punishment and gendered torture. With this action, Ben Gvir converts the private space of incarceration into a show of power by visiting these women in their cells, shooting their complaints, and making fun of them.
As for the timing of this video clip release, multiple news sources have pointed out that it happened two months before Israeli elections when Ben Gvir is trying to secure the support of his far-right base. Thus, the video clip becomes an advertisement of Ben Gvir in which he demonstrates himself as the candidate who is ready to face “terrorists” personally, disregarding any foreign criticism and implementing severe punishment. The wording used by Ben Gvir—“bare minimum,” “kindergartens are over,” “I am directly responsible”—becomes designed for short catchy phrases in order to appeal to right-wing supporters through sound bites and clips on social networks. At the same time, the Palestinian prisoners and their relatives get the message that nothing will change under him.
From Policy to Performance: The Politics of Humiliation
Ben Gvir’s video is not just about prison management; it is a performance of power. The minister walks through corridors, peers into cells, and stages a conversation in which detainees’ grievances are met with contempt. The camera captures not only his words but his posture: a minister unbothered by suffering, even proud of it.
This performative aspect matters because it normalizes a particular vision of justice: one in which humiliation is not a side effect but an objective. When Ben Gvir says,
“I am pleased with these conditions,”
he is not merely describing policy; he is endorsing suffering as a legitimate tool of governance. The message to his domestic audience is clear: harshness is competence, and compassion for Palestinian detainees is weakness.
For Palestinian audiences, the video reinforces a sense that their bodies and dignity are expendable in Israel’s security calculus. The fact that the detainees are women intensifies the impact, because it intersects with cultural and familial notions of honor, privacy, and protection. By broadcasting their complaints and then dismissing them, Ben Gvir turns their vulnerability into a political asset.
Legal and Rights Implications of “Bare Minimum” Conditions
In his capacity as Minister of National Security, Ben Gvir supervises the IPS that houses many Palestinian security detainees, including women. Both international humanitarian law and human rights law oblige that all detainees be treated humanely, with the provision for proper hygiene, medical services, and protection against degrading treatments. The particular allegations in the video—the absence of showers for three days, of clean underwear, lack of water in cells, poor medical treatment, and continuous intrusions—are similar to those listed as cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment according to international standards. Although Israel claims that security detainees may be subjected to stricter regimes, denial of basic hygiene and health services appears inconsistent with its responsibilities in relation to international law.
Another question raised by Ben Gvir’s comment about prisoners receiving
“the bare minimum of what is required by law”
is whose definition is used here and what monitoring system exists? When the “bare minimum” becomes understood as meeting the legal requirements without taking into account practical concerns, it may lead to the situation when the conditions will be officially “legal” but abusive in practice. Israeli prison conditions had been examined by rights organizations and even courts earlier, however, the policy of Ben Gvir indicates new political context.
Regional and International Reactions: “Fascism and Depravity”
The video drew swift condemnation from Palestinian factions and regional media. Hamas described the raid as evidence of “fascism and depravity,” accusing Ben Gvir of turning Palestinian women’s suffering into political propaganda. Palestinian rights and prisoner organizations framed the incident as humiliation and intimidation, and a violation of basic rights and international norms on the treatment of detainees.
Across the Arab and Muslim world, outlets such as Al‑Ahram, Al‑Jazeera, Middle East Monitor, and Roya News highlighted the minister’s boastful tone and the gendered nature of the abuse, presenting the episode as part of a broader pattern of collective punishment. Western and international media, including Le Monde, Arab News, and L’Orient Le Jour, reported the episode as a provocative election‑season move by a far‑right minister, underscoring the “hostages vs. prisoners” framing that Ben Gvir deployed.today.
So far, no major Israeli government figure has been quoted publicly defending the specific content of the video, though Ben Gvir’s hardline stance on Palestinian prisoners is consistent with his previous policies and public statements. The silence from other senior officials may reflect discomfort with the optics, or a calculation that challenging Ben Gvir on this issue carries political cost in a right‑leaning electoral environment.
What This Means for Palestinian Prisoners and Israeli Politics
This is what it means for the Palestinian prisoners – conditions will either worsen or stay at the harsh standard that Ben Gvir has been backing all along. His open declaration of responsibility shows that any future improvement in conditions will be contingent upon either a change of ministry or constant pressure from the legal and international world. The video is also sending a message to the prison authorities that they have political support to toughen their regimes, reduce privileges, and disregard complaints. From an Israeli political standpoint, this incident strengthens Ben Gvir’s reputation as the least compromising politician when it comes to the detention of Palestinians.
He is standing out in the crowded right-wing field not only by his policies but also with his showmanship – going into cells, filming conflicts, and publishing them as proof of his toughness. It might not necessarily translate into more votes, but definitely cements his reputation among voters who care about security policies. However, it might also increase Israel’s international isolation because such incidents are constantly discussed at the international forums as the issue of conditions of prisons and treatment of detainees.
Beyond the Clip: A Broader Pattern of Punitive Governance
Ben Gvir’s prison raid should not be read as an isolated incident. It fits into a broader pattern in which Palestinian detainees—men, women, and children—are treated as leverage, symbols, and political tools rather than individuals with rights. The language of “summer camps” and “kindergartens” deliberately trivializes past conditions, implying that any level of comfort for Palestinian prisoners is an injustice in itself.
There are implications that go beyond the prison. It sets a standard in the minds of the public on how far one can go in the name of ensuring security. It also eliminates any chances of having a future negotiation or confidence-building process involving the prisoners since it reinforces the belief that they have to be treated in a punitive manner regardless of the political situation. Thus, the Damon prison video is a reflection and a message – a reflection of the prison conditions that Ben Gvir wants to see and a message that it is where he is heading towards. The dilemma facing journalists, human rights activists and policy makers lies in going beyond the shock value of the video and addressing the underlying policies and motivations behind the shocking videos.