Inmate kills herself after Israeli Prison services refuse her plea for help

A 48-year-old inmate at Neve Tirza women’s prison took her own life on Friday, two days after pleading for psychiatric treatment during a Jerusalem District Court hearing, where her request was denied by the Israel Prison Service (IPS), Ynet reports.

During the hearing, the inmate stated, “I shouldn’t be in prison. I need psychiatric treatment. I want to go to the clinic and get treatment.” The prison commander, present unusually, admitted her mental state was “highly complex.” District Court Judge Dana Marshak-Marom had previously ordered a psychiatric evaluation, permitting “reasonable force” if needed, but the IPS refused to comply, citing potential harm to staff.

A senior IPS officer’s memo, obtained by Ynet, explained: “This is an inmate who does not cooperate due to a severe and complex mental state. All attempts to take her for the court-ordered psychiatric evaluation failed because she refused to leave and be examined.” The memo added that using force “could harm the detention staff,” a justification that raises concerns given IPS’s routine handling of violent security prisoners.

Attorney Shiran Bergman, the inmate’s public defender, called the case “deeply unfortunate,” noting the IPS had reported a self-harm risk, yet failed to follow the court’s order to have her examined. “It seems my client did not receive adequate supervision, and the outcome speaks for itself,” Bergman said.

The IPS responded: “Due to privacy and medical confidentiality, all we can say is that the deceased was held in custody in accordance with the law, with full attention to her needs. Any claims should be addressed in the appropriate forums.”

The case has sparked outrage, pointing to systemic issues in addressing inmates’ mental health needs.

For those in crisis, support is available through Eran hotline (1201), WhatsApp (052-8451201), Sahar (http://www.sahar.org.il), or headspace.org.il.