Rights group reports worsening humanitarian conditions in Israeli prisons

A Palestinian prisoners’ rights group says health conditions in Israeli prisons are worsening, citing medical neglect, shortages of vital medicines, and inadequate follow-up for sick inmates.

The Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday that its legal team uncovered extremely severe humanitarian conditions endured by Palestinian detainees in Ofer and Negev prisons.

The commission said the revelation followed field visits that exposed a distressing reality at detention and interrogation facilities. 

The advocacy group stated that detainees reported a significant lack of clothing and blankets, leaving them with no choice but to rely on tattered and inadequate garments.

It characterized the treatment as a clear breach of humanitarian and international standards.

According to the commission, Palestinian prisoners also reported ongoing restrictions on family visits, leading to significant psychological anguish.

Additionally, they highlighted abrupt and frequent transfers between different prison sections and facilities, employed as a means of exerting both psychological and physical pressure.

The legal team recorded numerous complaints of oppression and mistreatment, highlighting degrading searches, collective penalties, and constant restrictions that violate detainees' dignity and fundamental rights.

The commission emphasized that such practices represent serious breaches of international humanitarian law and global conventions.

It held Israeli authorities fully responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of detainees, and urged immediate action to put an end to the violations.

Two former Palestinian prisoners recount sexual abuse in Israeli detention

The former prisoners described systematic beatings, sexual assault, and torture while held in the Israeli regime’s custody.

In a related development, the Asra Media Office reported that Israeli officials had intensified their repressive measures at the isolation section of Ganot Prison throughout December.

It reported that prison units conducted three consecutive raids on December 14, 16, and 19, during which detainees were subjected to beatings and widespread abuse indiscriminately.

The office further said severe isolation conditions persist without any signs of improvement, accompanied by extreme cold and a lack of even the most essential life necessities.

It held Israeli officials entirely accountable for the safety of detainees and the repercussions of isolation and repression policies. An urgent appeal was made for legal and humanitarian action to put an end to the ongoing violations within the prisons.

The conditions under which Palestinian inmates are held by Israel are deeply concerning, marked by unsatisfactory hygiene practices. Additionally, these detainees continue to face ongoing torture, mistreatment, and systemic oppression.

Palestinian prisoners have repeatedly engaged in prolonged hunger strikes as a form of protest against their perceived unjust detention.

Human rights organizations report that Israel persists in breaching the rights and freedoms guaranteed to detainees under the Fourth Geneva Convention and international law.

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