BONUS - Dakar Eilat: Inside prisons for Hamas terrorists

In this bonus episode of The Times of Israel Daily Briefing, host Laser Berman interviews Colonel Dakar Eilat, a former senior officer in Israel's security apparatus and former commander of two high-security prisons housing hardened Hamas terrorists. Eilat provides a firsthand account of Israel's Prison Service (IPS), detailing its evolution since the 2005 transfer of terrorist detainees from military to civilian control, the strict oversight mechanisms in place, and the operational culture of prison management. He refutes the recent New York Times allegations of widespread sexual abuse and rape by prison guards and trained dogs, calling them 'bullshit' and emphasizing the extensive surveillance, multiple inspection bodies, and legal accountability that make such abuse implausible. Eilat explains that prisoners are monitored via cameras, medical staff are independent, and even the Red Cross has been restricted from entering prisons since October 7th due to perceived bias. He argues that the IPS operates with strict discipline, transparency, and a focus on preventing internal terror coordination from spilling into the outside world. The conversation underscores the complexity of managing high-risk detainees while maintaining legal and ethical standards under intense scrutiny. Key takeaways include: 1) Israel’s prison system is highly monitored with 130+ oversight bodies, including international and domestic inspectors; 2) Prisoners’ access to education, media, and communication is tightly controlled and approved by government policy; 3) The use of force is legal, recorded, and subject to strict accountability; 4) Allegations of mass abuse lack evidence and are likely disinformation; 5) The Red Cross has been excluded due to perceived anti-Israel bias; 6) Prison commanders have full operational control but are bound by law and surveillance; 7) The system is designed to disrupt terrorist command structures inside prisons; 8) Eilat praises the current leadership for maintaining integrity and effectiveness post-October 7th. The episode concludes with a strong defense of the IPS’s operational integrity amid international controversy.