Guards at Ketziot Prison transfer Palestinians to solitary confinement after anti-Israel messages scrawled on cell walls

Caption: Palestinian security prisoners made to kneel before an armed guard as another inmate paints over a vandalized cell wall in footage shared by Israeli prison service on February 24, 2025. (Courtesy/Israel Prison Service)
Caption: Palestinian security prisoners made to kneel before an armed guard as another inmate paints over a vandalized cell wall in footage shared by Israeli prison service on February 24, 2025. (Courtesy/Israel Prison Service)

Guards at Ketziot Prison transferred multiple Palestinian security prisoners to solitary confinement after inmates penciled messages on cell walls ahead of their anticipated release Saturday.

The Israel Prison Service says in a statement today that guards entered the cells to implement “resolute and uncompromising prison governance” and then moved the inmates to solitary confinement.

In footage shared by the spokesperson, five inmates are seen kneeling before an armed guard who stands watch, while a sixth is made to repaint a prison cell wall.

Israeli news outlet Ynet reports that inmates wrote, “We will not forget, we will not forgive, we will not kneel,” in response to shirts detainees were made to wear during last week’s handover, which bore a Star of David and the words “We will not forget or forgive.”

The spokesperson adds that guards also discovered messages which read “Jerusalem is Arab” and “Now is the time of the dogs,” the latter in apparent reference to Jews.

Over 445 inmates of some 600 in total stood to be freed back into the Gaza Strip from the Negev’s Ketziot Prison on Saturday. However later that night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would not follow through with the release until Hamas promised to end its “humiliating” propaganda ceremonies during hostage handovers.

It is unclear whether those moved to solitary confinement were slated for release.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.