Nineteen prison guards in the Israel Prison Service were recently questioned in the case being investigated in Lahav 19. As part of the investigation, it was suspected that a security prisoner who had been in Ketziot Prison for 433 years had been beaten to death by them. In a conversation with Israel Hayom, the lawyer representing the guards said: "There is no connection between the use of force and the death of the deceased."
Security prisoners set cells on fire: firefighting efforts in Ramon and Ketziot prisons (archive) // IPS Spokesperson's Office
Attorney Adi Kedar, who represents the guards on behalf of Honenu, told Israel Hayom that "since the outbreak of the war, many benefits that security prisoners had have been canceled, which led to an escalation in their behavior and opposition to compliance with IPS orders."
According to Kedar, the guards acted in accordance with the instructions they received, "In that incident as well, the force acted according to the instructions and needs that existed that day. There is no connection between the use of force and any injury or injury, and certainly not to the death of the deceased." The attorney pointed an accusing finger at the IPS: "It's a shame that the IPS command is turning its back on the guards who do their job faithfully through hard and challenging work."
Attorney Hai Haber, who also represents the prison guards, protested the decision to interrogate them: "The time has come for all systems, including the IPS, to understand that we must change our approach and perception, not rush to arrest guards who deal daily with terrorists detained in prisons. The guards I represent did not come into contact with the terrorist at all, so the decision to interrogate them as suspects is not at all clear, and certainly not for release under restrictive conditions.
Thaer Abu Asab, photo: uncredited
"The terrorists must also understand that after the events of October 7, we took off the gloves, anyone who does not act in accordance with the instructions he receives from the army, the police and the IPS personnel will be dealt with immediately in accordance with the instructions," Haber said. It became known that the body of security prisoner Thaer Abu Asab (38), who belonged to Fatah and was sentenced to many years for security offenses, was found in his cell about a month ago and the guards suspected of the crime were interrogated and released on bail to house arrest.
The body of Abu Asab, who is serving a sentence of more than 20 years in prison, was transferred for autopsy at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir. Sources involved in the case said that the autopsy's opinion did not state that the guards were responsible for his death.
National Security Minister Ben-Gvir told Israel Hayom in his first response to the prison guards' affair: "It is not right to sentence them and I will not conduct a field trial for the guards. They have the presumption of innocence – and there is no reason to decide their fate before a thorough examination is carried out – we must remember that our guards are dealing with human scum, murderers, who pose a security threat, and I would suggest not defaming the guards and setting rivets."
Ketziot Prison, Photo: Moshe Shai
The Israel Prison Service said that "since the beginning of the Iron Swords War, the Israel Prison Service has taken in thousands of security prisoners. In light of this, the level of challenges and threats faced by the guards, who carry out their missions and enlist in the combat effort, has increased."
They added, "It should be emphasized that even under the harsh security reality in Israel, the organization is meticulous in maintaining professionalism and values. Events requiring examination, if any, will take place in full cooperation with the investigating unit until its conclusion."
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