Israel Prison Service
Israel's prison authority; 46 Palestinians died in its custody Oct 2023-Nov 2025 (PHRI) while it blocked Red Cross visits.
The Israel Prison Service (IPS) is the agency responsible for overseeing prisons in Israel; it was established in 1949 and falls under the Ministry of National Security. Kobi Yaakobi, previously security secretary to Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has been commissioner since January 2024; Hebrew media reported in April 2026 that the Attorney General decided to indict him for breach of trust and obstructing an investigation. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel found 46 Palestinians died in IPS custody from October 2023 to November 2025. Israel told the UN Committee Against Torture that 172 complaints were filed about Gaza inmates in IPS custody between October 2023 and September 2025. A State Comptroller report published 9 June 2026 found 10,147 security prisoners in IPS facilities as of February 2025, 1,136 over the wartime emergency maximum, with a further 2,366 held in IDF facilities. Israel's High Court ruled on 3 June 2026 that the blanket ban on Red Cross visits to Palestinian security detainees lacked adequate legal justification.
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Roles
1 source
- Wikipedia — Kobi Yaakobi
Prior to his appointment in January 2024, he served as the security secretary to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
Figures
1 source
- Committee against Torture meeting summary: Israel reviewDocument
Between 7 October 2023 and end of September 2025, 397 claims of ill-treatment of security detainees were made, among which 172 complaints were filed regarding Gazan inmates in the custody of the Israel Prison Service; 158 cases were transferred to the State Attorney’s office, with 20 currently remaining under investigation.
1 source
- The Times of Israel — AG set to indict Israel Prisons chief in probe linked to Ben Gvir
Yaakobi will be charged with breach of trust and obstructing an investigation
1 source
- CNN (via ABC17) — At least 98 Palestinians died in Israeli prisons in two years, Israeli human rights group finds
PHRI found that 46 Palestinians died in the custody of the Israel Prison Service since the outbreak of the war and that at least 52 Palestinians — all from Gaza — died in Israeli military custody.