In a highly unusual intervention during wartime, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that authorities have deprived Palestinian prisoners of adequate food and ordered the state to provide three daily meals that ensure “a basic level of existence.” The unanimous decision follows a petition by Israeli rights organizations that documented malnutrition and starvation in custody—an assessment the court accepted in a landmark ruling.

Court Mandates Adequate Meals

The three-judge panel concluded the state has a legal duty to guarantee subsistence nutrition for detainees and instructed officials to increase both the amount and quality of food served. “We are not speaking here of comfortable living or luxury, but of the basic conditions of survival,” the ruling stated, warning against “sharing in the ways of our worst enemies.” The court further recognized evidence that deliberate restrictions had caused malnutrition during the war.

Evidence Of Starvation And Deaths

Since October 2023, Palestinians released from military camps and prisons have described overcrowding, scabies outbreaks, scant rations, and poor medical care. The petitioners cited cases of suspected starvation, including the death of a 17-year-old in March, allegedly from prolonged malnutrition and neglect. While rights groups say the toll has continued to rise, the court referenced at least 61 Palestinians who have died in Israeli custody since the war began.

Ben-Gvir’s Defiance And Political Backdrop

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the prison system, publicly championed degrading conditions to the “minimum” required by law and castigated the court for intervening. He has previously boasted of policies to cut rations for detainees, doubling down even as justices demanded answers on alleged starvation in prisons. The clash comes after months of debate over judicial checks on government power.

Scale Of Detention And Prison Conditions

Israel has detained large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, many held for months without charge. By late July, official figures indicated more than 10,000 “security” inmates—nearly all Palestinian—amid reports of infectious disease and inadequate sanitation. International organizations and local monitors have repeatedly flagged abusive conditions, adding urgency to the court’s order to restore basic standards.

What Happens Next

The ruling obliges prison authorities to immediately ensure three daily meals that meet subsistence needs and to improve food quality across facilities. Rights advocates have called for swift implementation and independent oversight, noting that “a state must not starve people.” Whether the government complies—or seeks legislative workarounds—will test the judiciary’s ability to enforce minimum rights during an ongoing conflict.