Prison Riots and Hunger Strikes: Tensions Escalate in Middle Eastern Prisons

Riots broke out at Rimonim and Eshel prisons in Israel allegedly due to the isolation of Arab crime bosses. The Israel Prison Service intervened, sequestering suspected rioters and quelling the uprisings. At least three prisoners and several guards were injured. The riots were triggered by the refusal of a request by crime boss Qutaiyer Odeh to be released from restrictive incarceration. Nasser Hariri, another gangster, also joined the riots. Public Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir supports the crackdown and is considering further sanctions against prisoners from crime families. The riots occurred amidst a violent turf war between crime syndicates in Arab cities, resulting in a high number of deaths.