Israel regime’s extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has turned restrictions imposed on Palestinian prisoners into a political campaign issue ahead of elections, openly promoting harsh prison measures while rights groups continue to raise concerns over conditions in occupation prisons.

Ben-Gvir recently boasted about limiting Palestinian prisoners’ access to food and basic necessities, while announcing disciplinary measures against eight Palestinian prisoners at Lavi Prison who prepared a small cake using food they had collected over several days.

According to reports, the prisoners prepared the cake to celebrate the possibility of Ben-Gvir losing his position in the 27 October elections. After the prison administration discovered the cake, disciplinary action was taken against the prisoners and they were placed in solitary confinement.

נגמרה הקייטנה! pic.twitter.com/drsgFLfrw1

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) 25 Ekim 2026

Ben-Gvir uses prison policies in election campaign

Ben-Gvir has repeatedly highlighted restrictions imposed on Palestinian prisoners as part of his political messaging, presenting the reduction of prisoners’ rights and living conditions as one of his main achievements.

The extremist minister has shared videos from occupation prisons in which he promotes his policies toward Palestinian prisoners and defends restrictions on food and other basic needs. His statements have drawn criticism from Palestinian rights groups and human rights organisations.

The Lavi Prison incident became the latest example of how conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners have been brought into the election debate, with a small amount of food collected by prisoners becoming part of Ben-Gvir’s political narrative.

“Prison is not a hotel”

In another incident, Ben-Gvir published a video showing an exchange with a Palestinian woman prisoner inside an occupation prison.

During the conversation, the prisoner said she was suffering from depression and psychological distress, while also complaining about poor food, a lack of clean water and the absence of basic necessities.

When Ben-Gvir asked about the detention conditions, the prisoner responded that conditions were not good. Ben-Gvir replied that prison conditions should not be comfortable and said that “prison is not a hotel,” arguing that prisoners should face consequences for their actions.

The video drew criticism from Palestinian rights organisations, which accused Ben-Gvir of humiliating prisoners and using their suffering for political purposes.

Rights groups warn over conditions in occupation prisons

המחבלים האלה, יימח שמם, הם חלאות אדם, מוגי לב. אני רואה אותם בבתי הסוהר כשאנחנו עושים להם גיהנום. הפסקת ההפקרות שהייתה כאן במשך 40 שנה, ביטול התנאים המפנקים וסיום בית המלון שהיה להם בבתי הסוהר הם דברים חשובים.

אבל יש לנו שליחות גדולה יותר, והיא להרוג את המחבלים שנשארו בחיים… pic.twitter.com/wv0VLWdFZI

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) 25 Ekim 2026

Ben-Gvir has previously spoken about tightening restrictions on Palestinian prisoners, including limiting access to food and other services. He also sparked controversy after saying he intervened over a case in which a prisoner received eight olives instead of six, describing his approach with the phrase: “Governance begins with olives.”

Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over conditions in occupation prisons, citing allegations of inadequate food, weight loss, medical neglect and harsh detention conditions among Palestinian prisoners.

The issue has become a prominent part of Ben-Gvir’s election messaging, as he seeks to present his policies toward Palestinian prisoners as a security measure while critics accuse him of turning their suffering into political propaganda.(ILKHA)