Hamas on Saturday described what it said were abuses of Palestinian prisoners at Israel’s Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank as a “new war crime,” urging the international community to act to protect them and hold Israel accountable.

The statement came a day after Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited Ofer prison near Ramallah. Hamas said Israeli media reports showed what it described as mistreatment of Palestinian detainees during the visit.

Hamas said the alleged “brutal abuse” constituted a “blatant challenge to international humanitarian law regarding prisoners,” and argued that international silence over conditions in Israeli prisons encourages Israel to continue such practices.

The group also described the alleged actions as an extension of what it calls a “war of genocide and ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians.

There was no immediate comment from Israeli authorities on the Hamas statement.