Rights Groups Report Surge in Use of Rubber Bullets Against Palestinian Inmates
Leading human rights organizations report a sharp increase in Israeli prison guards firing rubber bullets at Palestinian detainees, raising abuse concerns.
POLICY WIRE — Tel Aviv, Israel — Two prominent human rights organizations have raised alarms regarding a significant rise in the use of rubber bullets against inmates in Israeli custody. The groups report that guards are increasingly firing these projectiles at close range, often resulting in severe physical injuries to detainees, the vast majority of whom are Palestinian.
Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel have documented 22 specific instances of such shootings. While one case involved an Israeli prisoner, the remaining incidents involved Palestinians. Data indicates that nearly all these events have occurred since the autumn of 2023, marking a stark departure from the limited number of similar incidents recorded over the previous decade.
In an August letter to the Israel Prison Service, the organizations characterized the practice as both widespread and unlawful, demanding an immediate cessation of the behavior. The prison service’s legal advisor responded by maintaining that the use of rubber bullets remains appropriate when applied in a measured manner, asserting that the agency remains dedicated to prisoner safety.
Rights advocates argue that the force used is frequently disproportionate and fails to meet the legal threshold for weapon deployment, which is restricted to situations involving imminent risk or escape prevention. Sari Bashi, executive director of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, emphasized that the use of these munitions against prisoners represents a dangerous escalation in routine prison violence.
The prison population in Israel has doubled since the onset of the war in Gaza, with thousands of individuals rounded up in the West Bank and Gaza. According to the legal rights group Hamoked, more than 9,000 Palestinians currently remain in detention. Documented injuries from recent months include severe trauma to the legs, knees, and pelvic region, with some inmates reportedly denied medical follow-up after being struck.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
