Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that the state is failing to provide adequate food to Palestinian prisoners and must take steps to improve their nutrition. The three-judge bench stated that the government is legally obligated to provide sufficient nutrition to ensure 'a basic level of existence.'
Thousands of Palestinians have been held in Israeli jails for years, many under terror-related charges, and a significant number have been detained since the recent outbreak of violence in October 2023.
Discussions surrounding a potential ceasefire have stalled, and on Sunday night, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a 'last warning' to Hamas, urging them to accept terms for releasing Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Trump noted that Israel had accepted his terms, indicating it was time for Hamas to reciprocate, emphasizing that this was his final warning and no further opportunities would be presented.
In response, Hamas communicated readiness to negotiate immediately if they received suitable proposals from the U.S. regarding a ceasefire.
Trump also predicted that a deal concerning Gaza would materialize soon, asserting that all the hostages—believed to be around 48, with up to 20 thought to be alive—would be returned, whether dead or alive.
Despite the calls for action, Israel has yet to react to any proposal concerning the hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains steadfast in his position, claiming that a complete victory over Hamas would be necessary to ensure the safe return of the hostages.
Meanwhile, public pressure is mounting on Netanyahu, with thousands of Israelis protesting for an end to hostilities and urging negotiations for hostage releases.
International calls to cease the Israeli military's offensive in Gaza have also intensified but Netanyahu has reiterated that operations, particularly against Hamas in Gaza City, will continue.
Reports indicate that at least 87 individuals were killed in Gaza within a 24-hour period as aggression escalated.
The situation remains dire, with Israeli authorities denying access to Palestinian detainees for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) since the commencement of hostilities on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths.
Since then, Israel has executed a large-scale retaliation against Hamas, which, as per the Hamas-run health ministry, has resulted in over 64,368 Palestinian fatalities. This figure has been deemed reliable by the United Nations, although it faces dispute from Israeli officials.
Human rights organizations have long criticized prison conditions for Palestinians and have alleged that recent changes in food policies have exacerbated issues of malnutrition. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), a group that was part of the legal challenge leading to this recent ruling, has expressed its intent for the verdict to be implemented immediately.
Former detainees and human rights advocates have claimed that mistreatment and torture are commonplace in Israeli detention facilities.
Following the ruling, Israel's Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized the decision on social media, stating that Israeli hostages have no such legal protection and reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing the minimal conditions mandated by law for 'imprisoned terrorists.'
As hostilities continued, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck another building in Gaza City, marking the third such occurrence in three days amid allegations that Hamas utilized the site for intelligence operations, a claim refuted by Palestinian officials.
