Key facts
- Dana Joudeh, 35, gave birth in an Israeli jail on September 14 after over six months in administrative detention.
- Joudeh was three months pregnant when arrested on March 1.
- Joudeh and her newborn daughter were released a day after the birth.
- The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs stated Joudeh was denied adequate medical care during pregnancy.
- Two other pregnant Palestinian prisoners, Manar Karaja and Baraa Abu Khadija, are currently in Israeli custody.
- Around 90 Palestinian women are being held in Israeli prisons as of early September.
The birth of a baby to a Palestinian prisoner in an Israeli jail has intensified concerns regarding the treatment of pregnant detainees, encompassing arrest, interrogation, prenatal care, nutrition, and medical attention.
Dana Joudeh, 35, delivered a baby girl on September 14, having been held in Israeli administrative detention for over six months without charge or trial. She was three months pregnant when arrested from her home on March 1. Following her release a day after giving birth, Joudeh and her daughter were transferred to a hospital in Ramallah for medical care.
The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs has stated that Israel is responsible for the health and safety of Joudeh and her newborn, asserting that Joudeh was denied adequate medical care throughout her pregnancy and condemning her forced childbirth in prison as a violation of international laws.
Joudeh's experience has amplified worries about two other pregnant Palestinian prisoners: Manar Karaja, 28, who is six months pregnant, and Baraa Abu Khadija, four months pregnant.
Banan Abu al-Haija, a former prisoner who shared a cell with Joudeh, Karaja, and another released detainee, Amina al-Tawil, described harsh conditions. She stated that Joudeh, who had undergone gastric bypass surgery, was denied necessary vitamins and supplements. Abu al-Haija reported that the pregnant detainees were held in a small, hot room, lacked adequate nutrition for themselves and their fetuses, and received minimal medical treatment.
Karaja's husband, Musab Zalloum, expressed deep fears for his wife, noting that Joudeh's situation has heightened concerns that Karaja might give birth in prison. Karaja has reportedly developed scabies due to poor hygiene and lack of sanitary provisions, and has raised concerns about inadequate medical care and nutrition. Her previous pregnancies and births were attended by her husband, who is now struggling to obtain information about her condition.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) reported in September that conditions for female Palestinian prisoners have reached severe levels, citing numerous prison raids, assaults, humiliation, solitary confinement, and confiscation of personal belongings. The PPS also noted an increase in the use of tear gas and solitary confinement for female prisoners.
As of early September, approximately 90 Palestinian women are held in Israeli prisons out of a total of 9,350 Palestinian prisoners.