A C-Section in Shackles: A Palestinian Woman’s Harrowing Birth in Israeli Detention

In shackles and unaware of her impending motherhood, Dana Joudeh found herself arrested by Israeli forces without charge. The 35-year-old woman from Nablus had just spent her first night in prison when she lost consciousness in front of Israeli soldiers at Sharon Prison. Taken to a hospital blindfolded and shackled, Joudeh's pregnancy test came back positive.

This marked the beginning of her harrowing six-month ordeal while in Israeli custody, where she faced inadequate food, limited family visits, and insufficient medical care. Joudeh and other pregnant Palestinian women arrested since October 7, 2023, have endured physically and medically complex conditions, with reports of violence, violence, and limited access to prenatal care.

According to Palestinian prisoners' rights advocates, the total number of pregnancies in custody is unknown, but Joudeh is the second documented case of a woman giving birth while under Israeli detention in nearly 17 years. Israeli forces subjected Joudeh to various forms of violence, forcing her to lie face down on the floor and subjecting her to sound grenades.

Her family and lawyer described shortages of food, medical supplies, and basic necessities. Despite her concerns about her baby's health, Joudeh was denied medical tests for vitamins and folic acid. With the help of other prisoners, she received pain relief through secret exchanges of medication. Joudeh's six-month pregnancy came to an end with a premature cesarean section.

This story sheds light on the struggles faced by pregnant Palestinian women in Israeli prisons, where they are denied basic human rights and medical care.