Israeli Courts Rebuke Prison Service Over Stun Grenades and Detention Conditions
Israeli courts have criticized the Israel Prison Service over documentation gaps regarding stun grenade use in security wings and sanitary conditions following a bedbug infestation.
A series of recent court rulings have targeted the Israel Prison Service (IPS) over detention conditions, use of force, and operational protocols following separate legal challenges.
Nazareth Court Questions Stun Grenade Protocols
The Nazareth District Court addressed a petition filed by Benjamin Asher Weiss, who is accused of espionage on behalf of Iran, regarding the use of stun grenades in his detention wing. While the court dismissed Weiss's claim that dozens of grenades were thrown directly into his cell every few days, it severely criticized the IPS for lacking proper documentation, reporting, and debriefing procedures.
According to the ruling, the IPS failed to provide adequate circumstances, threats, or justifications for seven specific instances where stun grenades were used. The court emphasized that the existing security guidelines regulate stun grenades during sudden disturbances but lack a normative framework for planned or proactive operations.
"The IPS failed to present sufficient evidentiary foundations proving that the specific uses were lawful, though the court does not issue a blanket ban on stun grenades in correctional facilities," the ruling stated.
The IPS responded by stating it respects the court's decisions and will review the remarks, noting that the court recognized the legal authority to use such means under appropriate circumstances.
Bedbug Infestations and Sentences
In a separate proceeding, the Hadera Magistrates' Court criticized the IPS after an undocumented West Bank resident convicted of unlawful entry showed the judge numerous bedbug bites covering his arms, back, stomach, and head.
The judge ruled that the severe physical distress warranted a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines, sentencing him to 20 days in prison with a reduced fine. The judge noted that imprisonment strips freedom but should not inflict additional, unnecessary suffering through poor sanitary conditions.
The IPS stated that the inmate was examined by medical staff upon intake and during his stay, that professional pest control measures were conducted in his wing, and that the agency maintains sanitary standards across facilities.
