---
title: "Israeli rights groups report surge in inmates shot with rubber bullets"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/israeli-rights-groups-report-surge-in-inmates-shot-with-rubber-bullets"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/israeli-rights-groups-report-surge-in-inmates-shot-with-rubber-bullets"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/israeli-rights-groups-report-surge-in-inmates-shot-with-rubber-bullets.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/israeli-rights-groups-report-surge-in-inmates-shot-with-rubber-bullets"
category: "Conflict & Security"
area: "Middle East"
published: "2026-10-15T14:05:32.786Z"
source_reported: "2026-10-15T13:38:19.877Z"
updated: "2026-10-15T14:05:32.786Z"
trust_score: 60
critic_score: 65
hype_score: 45
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-10-15T16:48:30.403Z"
---

# Israeli rights groups report surge in inmates shot with rubber bullets

*Two organizations documented 22 cases, with most incidents occurring since last fall.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Two independent outlets and a named body corroborated the central claim, with some details from named groups.
- Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. The reporting is clear and holds together, with affected parties quoted or given a right of reply.
- Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. The language is measured, but the headline promises more than the body of the report delivers.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Two Israeli human rights organisations, Physicians for Human Rights Israel and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, have documented 22 cases of inmates being shot with rubber bullets.
- One of the inmates shot was Israeli, while the remaining 21 were Palestinian.
- Nearly all of these shootings have occurred since last autumn, marking a substantial rise compared to the previous decade.
- The groups sent a letter to the Israel Prison Service in August urging an end to the practice, to which the service responded that rubber bullets were being used in 'measured' and 'appropriate' ways.

Two Israeli human rights organisations have reported a sharp increase in the number of inmates, primarily Palestinians, being shot with rubber bullets by prison guards. Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) documented 22 such incidents. One of the individuals shot was Israeli, with the other 21 being Palestinian. The majority of these shootings have taken place since last autumn, a notable escalation from the prior ten years when only a few cases were recorded by these groups.

The rights groups sent a letter to the Israel Prison Service in August to request an end to the practice, which they described as 'widespread' and 'unlawful.' The prison service responded that the use of rubber bullets was being employed in 'measured' and 'appropriate' ways and that it was committed to prisoner safety. The Associated Press reviewed files provided by PHRI, including inmate statements and medical reports, and spoke with two former inmates who reported being shot.

## Disagreement on proportionality and response

The rights groups stated that in many instances, the shootings were neither proportionate nor used as a last resort, such as to quell violence or prevent an escape. They noted that under Israeli prison regulations, guards are permitted to use weapons only when facing imminent risk. Muhannad Abu Ghosh, director of the prisoners and detainees division at PHRI, described the use of rubber bullets against prisoners as a 'dangerous new development' and 'another routine form of violence in Israeli prisons.' The prison service did not respond to requests for comment on rules governing rubber bullet use or whether they had been fired at close range. Some inmates who were shot did not receive medical care afterward.

## What the coverage left out

None of the right-rated digests mention the letter sent by the human rights groups to the Israel Prison Service in August, nor the service's response that rubber bullets were being used in 'measured' and 'appropriate' ways. The right-rated digest also does not mention the specific number of Palestinian inmates involved (21 out of 22) or the fact that nearly all incidents occurred since last fall.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 26 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 58% (15)
- Centre: 34% (9)
- Right: 8% (2)

8 of 34 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-15T16:48:30.403Z.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 13 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-15T17:15:11.763Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Thirteen of the 14 left-rated reports led with the surge in rubber bullet shootings and the involvement of mostly Palestinian inmates. Several reports, including The Independent (US) and The Toronto Star, highlighted that conditions had deteriorated dramatically since the war in Gaza began more than three years ago. The Independent (US) and The Washington Post quoted rights groups describing the use of rubber bullets as 'another routine form of violence in Israeli prisons.' The Independent (US) and The Toronto Star also mentioned that some inmates who were shot did not receive medical care afterward. Haaretz, in its full report, detailed specific severe injuries, including the surgical removal of a testicle and surgery for a fractured shin, and quoted the prison service calling the reports a 'smear campaign against Israel.'

### Centre

- All eight centre-rated reports focused on the core finding of the two human rights groups documenting a surge in inmates being shot with rubber bullets. Outlets such as Washington Top News, My Mother Lode, and WBAL used the Associated Press's lead sentence, stating that the groups were 'sounding the alarm about a surge of mostly Palestinian inmates being shot by guards with rubber bullets at close range and, in some cases, suffering severe injuries.' Several centre-rated reports, including Cecil Daily and WKMG, mentioned the documentation of 22 cases, mostly involving Palestinians, since last fall. TRT World noted that Israeli guards were firing rubber bullets at close range, causing severe wounds.

### Right

- The single right-rated report, from Anadolu Ajansı, focused on the severe injuries sustained by Palestinian prisoners from rubber bullets fired by Israeli guards. It specifically mentioned one case requiring the surgical removal of a testicle and another undergoing surgery for a fractured shin, citing Israel's Haaretz daily, medical records, and testimonies.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- low: 1
- mixed: 4
- high: 12
- unknown: 8
- veryHigh: 9

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/10/15/israel-prisons-rubber-bullets) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [pbc.ps](https://pbc.ps/34523) — Two Human Rights Organizations: Statements by 22 Detainees Injured as a Result of the Occupation in Detention
- [madhyamamonline.com](https://madhyamamonline.com/world/rubber-bullet-use-on-palestinian-prisoners-surges-in-israel-1563573) — ‘Rubber bullet use on Palestinian prisoners surges in Israel’
- [aljazeera.net](https://aljazeera.net/news/2026/10/15/%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%ad%d9%82%d9%88%d9%82%d9%8a-%d9%8a%d9%83%d8%b4%d9%81-%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a5%d8%b7%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%82-%d9%86%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89) — A Human Rights Report Reveals Shootings of Prisoners in Israeli Prisons.
- [Arab News](https://arabnews.com/middle-east/palestinian-prisoners-shot-at-close-range-in-israeli-detention-rights-groups-say-3006518) — Palestinian prisoners shot at close range in Israeli detention, rights groups say
- [NRC Handelsblad](https://nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/10/15/palestijnse-gevangenen-worden-van-dichtbij-met-rubberen-kogels-beschoten-zeggen-israelische-mensenrechtenorganisaties-a4939047) — Palestinian Prisoners Are Being Shot at Close Range with Rubber Bullets, Israeli Human Rights Organizations Say.
- [Karar Gazetesi](https://karar.com/dunya-haberleri/israil-hapishanelerinde-tutuklulara-ates-acildigina-iliskin-22-ifade-2078629) — 22 Testimonies Have Been Documented Regarding the Shooting of Prisoners in Israeli Prisons.
- [Haberler](https://haberler.com/guncel/israil-de-iki-hak-orgutu-tutuklulara-ates-20333341-haberi) — Two Human Rights Organizations in Israel Have Documented, Based on at Least 22 Testimonies, that Prisoners Were Shot.
- [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/middle-east/11223603/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [Independent Español](https://independentespanol.com/noticias/eeuu/grupos-israelies-de-derechos-denuncian-aumento-de-presos-palestinos-golpeados-con-balas-de-goma-b3067334.html) — Israeli Rights Groups Report Increase in Palestinian Prisoners Beaten with Rubber Bullets
- [madhyamam.com](https://madhyamam.com/india/palestinian-inmates-shot-with-rubber-bullets-in-israeli-prisons-1563522) — 'Rubber Bullet Use Against Palestinian Prisoners on the Rise in Israel' - Human Rights Organization | 'Rubber Bullet Use Against Palestinian Prisoners on the Rise in Israel' - Human Rights Organization
- [The Siasat Daily](https://siasat.com/palestinian-inmates-shot-with-rubber-bullets-in-israeli-prisons-3558697) — Palestinian inmates shot with rubber bullets in Israeli prisons
- [The Washington Post](https://washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/15/palestinian-prisoners-israel-rubber-bullets-gaza-detainees/eb983f46-c871-11f1-aefb-abe4112d087e_story.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [WBAL](https://wbal.com/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot
- [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/world/2026/10/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/middle-east/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets/article_6ac7eadd-c366-5025-999c-115aa3d27d9a.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/israeli-palestinian-two-tel-aviv-associated-press-b3067217.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/israeli-palestinian-two-tel-aviv-associated-press-b3067217.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [Cecil Daily](https://cecildaily.com/ap/world/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets/article_3e9c2dd2-01ef-5def-a751-9e7aaf67e628.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [Inquirer](https://inquirer.com/wires/ap/israeli-rights-groups-report-surge-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets-20261015.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [Goshen News](https://goshennews.com/news/national_news/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets/article_18264aa8-1159-5da1-b4e9-f3ee8de0503a.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/world/2026/10/15/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [Click on Detroit](https://clickondetroit.com/news/world/2026/10/15/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [Haaretz](https://haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-10-15/ty-article/.premium/israeli-prisons-are-severely-injuring-prisoners-by-firing-rubber-bullets/000001a1-3a77-dc01-a5e7-ff77f2a70000) — Israeli prisons are severely injuring prisoners by firing rubber bullets
- [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/middle-east/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets/article_6619b9bc-fc52-53d6-899a-bf829f6c91a5.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/middle-east/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets/article_1684eef1-2d3e-5192-959d-ae1c74c36919.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/world/middle-east/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets/article_5b5d97b4-1c3f-525b-b4bf-d77cbbb1beda.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/news/world/middle-east/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets/article_2a410b5e-b7cc-5ef8-912d-2cf47e97cc8c.html) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/10/15/israeli-rights-groups-report-a-surge-of-palestinian-inmates-being-shot-with-rubber-bullets) — Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bullets
- [TRT World](https://trtworld.com/article/43b754873720) — Israeli guards shoot Palestinian prisoners with rubber bullets, causing severe wounds
- [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-prison-guards-shoot-palestinian-prisoners-with-rubber-bullets-leaving-them-severely-injured-report/4089150) — Israeli Prison Guards Shoot Palestinian Prisoners with Rubber Bullets, Leaving Them Severely Injured: Report
- [Unknown](https://alquds.co.uk/%D9%87%D8%A2%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%B3-%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A6%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AE%D8%B5%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A) — Ha'aretz Reveals the Removal of the Testicles of a Palestinian Prisoner and the Breaking of Another Leg.
- [haaretz.co.il](https://haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2026-10-14/ty-article/.premium/000001a1-3897-d217-a5ab-7ed76f100000) — Prison Service Fired Rubber Bullets at Security Prisoners, It Ended in Surgeries and Testicle Removal

## Questions

**How many cases of inmates being shot with rubber bullets have been documented?**

Two Israeli human rights groups, Physicians for Human Rights Israel and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, have documented 22 cases of inmates being shot with rubber bullets. One of these inmates was Israeli, and the rest were Palestinian.

**When did these shootings become more frequent?**

Nearly all of the 22 documented shootings have occurred since last fall. This marks a significant increase compared to the prior decade, during which only a handful of such incidents were recorded by these rights groups.

**What was the response from the Israel Prison Service?**

The Israel Prison Service responded to a letter from the rights groups by stating that rubber bullets were being used in 'measured' and 'appropriate' ways. The service also affirmed its commitment to the safety of its prisoners.

**What kind of injuries have resulted from these shootings?**

Reports indicate severe injuries, including one instance where a 45-year-old inmate had a testicle removed after it was 'completely crushed' by a rubber bullet. Another inmate required surgery for a fractured shin.

---

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