Israel’s Supreme Court has issued a rare ruling, declaring that the government is intentionally depriving thousands of Palestinian prisoners of adequate food, violating their basic right to subsistence.

The unanimous decision, handed down Sunday by a three-judge panel following a petition from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and Gisha, orders authorities to provide three daily meals to ensure a “basic level of existence.”

In a two-to-one vote, the court upheld claims of deliberate malnutrition in detention facilities, amid a broader 23-month war on Gaza.

The ruling comes as Palestinians in Gaza face an Israeli-induced famine, with daily deaths reported from malnutrition.

Since the war’s onset, the Israeli army has detained thousands from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, often on vague “terrorism” suspicions, with released prisoners recounting torture, overcrowding, and medical neglect.

ACRI noted harassment from government and far-right Knesset members during hearings, framing the court’s intervention as a legal necessity rather than a luxury.

The decision highlights a stark contrast to the dire conditions in Gaza, where relentless bombardment has displaced millions since 2023.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key figure opposing the ruling, criticized the judges, posting on X, “Our hostages in Gaza have no Supreme Court to protect them,” and vowed to maintain minimum legal conditions for prisoners.