Rights9/17/2026

Public Defender’s Office Seeks to Bar Israel Prison Service Publications About Agam Tsarfati

The Public Defender’s Office petitioned the Tel Aviv District Court, urgently seeking to bar the Israel Prison Service from distributing materials similar to a video featuring defendant Agam Tsarfati. The video was published one day after Tsarfati filed a petition concerning her conditions of incarceration; the court’s decision on the request is not provided in the source.

Key facts

•Applicant: the Public Defender’s Office
•Court: Tel Aviv District Court
•Respondent to the request: Israel Prison Service
•Tsarfati’s status: defendant, not convicted
•Legal basis: Protection of Privacy Law
•The court’s decision is not stated in the source

What Happened

Agam Tsarfati is charged with the murder of Benayahu Razi, but her trial is still ongoing and she is presumed innocent until judgment is rendered. In the circulated video, she is seen being transferred to the Abu Kabir Detention Center under the escort of masked officers. The post included a caption stating that Tsarfati “is being treated like terrorists.”

Why the Public Defender’s Office Intervened

The Public Defender’s Office demanded that an urgent hearing be scheduled and an immediate injunction be issued against the Israel Prison Service. It argued that filming inside a detention facility and distributing the video through the media and on social media constitute a blatant violation of the Protection of Privacy Law and severely infringe the defendant’s right to a fair trial. The Public Defender’s Office also noted that the video shows staff members inspecting a bag containing Tsarfati’s personal belongings, including feminine hygiene products.

Connection to the Conditions of Incarceration

According to the source, one day before the video was published, Tsarfati filed a petition against the Israel Prison Service concerning her conditions of incarceration. The response of the Israel Prison Service spokesperson regarding this sequence of events is not provided in the article. The source also does not report whether the District Court granted the request to prohibit publication.

The Minister’s Position

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected the Public Defender’s Office’s criticism and argued that Israel Prison Service personnel acted in accordance with the law. He accused Tsarfati of disrupting order and behaving inappropriately toward prisoners and staff members. These claims are presented in the source as the minister’s position; the article provides no judicial assessment of them.

What this means for you

The petition raises the question of the limits on state authorities’ right to publish images of people who are in custody but have not yet been convicted. For an ordinary person in a similar situation, the right to privacy, the presumption of innocence, and the ability to urgently ask a court to halt a publication that could harm their dignity and the fairness of the proceedings are important. The mere filing of the request does not indicate that a prohibition has already been imposed.

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