Ramadan in Damoun Prison: A Harrowing Account of Hunger and Deprivation

Ramadan begins for many families with the absence of a loved one at the iftar table, particularly for women enduring captivity in Israeli prisons, especially in Damoun Prison.

Current data indicates that approximately 24 women are held in Israeli prisons, with the majority confined in Damoun. Among these women are mothers separated from their children, who are experiencing Ramadan without the comforting embrace of their mothers and the simple rituals of preparing iftar and suhoor.

One poignant story is that of Ilia Malitat, a girl under ten years old who has been left alone after her parents’ capture. Her father, Musab Malitat, was re-arrested in September 2025, while her mother, Asil Malitat, has been imprisoned since June 2025. This family is spending Ramadan behind the high prison walls, separated from one another.

Released prisoners have shared their experiences of Ramadan in captivity. Dalia Fawaz Al-Halabi, a 55-year-old from Nablus who was administratively detained in early 2025 and released after a year, spoke about the harsh conditions during Ramadan in prison. According to her, inmates were unaware of the exact start of Ramadan and discovered that the announced prayer times were incorrect, leading to iftar being held prematurely. Subsequently, any schedule of prayer times was banned.

She also noted that three meals were delivered simultaneously before iftar, often served cold, including even the tea, which was also distributed cold. Meanwhile, Rola Ibrahim Hassanin, a journalist who was arrested in March 2024 and spent ten months in captivity, reported that the quantity and quality of food were severely lacking, describing this as part of a policy of pressure. She mentioned that kitchen utensils and some personal items were confiscated.Bushra Al-Tawil another journalist highlighted the dire sanitary and nutritional conditions stating that the provided soup lacked nutritional value and the drinking water was of poor quality. Additionally there were restrictions on performing prayers and reading the Quran.

Daily deprivation details reveal that fruits were almost unavailable and inedible vegetables were distributed. The rice portions were minimal and each inmate received only one egg daily which was often overcooked. The bread allowance was reported as six loaves over a 24-hour period with no special considerations made for diabetic patients or those with chronic illnesses.

Medical services were primarily limited to basic pain relief and complaints about food quality sometimes resulted in punishment placing inmates in a position of choosing between hunger and acceptance of their circumstances.

Ramadan in Damoun Prison for women is characterized by food shortages restrictions on religious practices and the inability to visit family. Nevertheless they strive to maintain their fasting and the rituals of this sacred month as much as possible.