Intensified Repression and Health Neglect Reported in Occupation Prisons
Palestinian inmates in Israeli detention facilities are reportedly experiencing heightened levels of violence, medical negligence, and perilous conditions, according to rights organizations. These groups have raised alarms over what they describe as systematic abuse within the prison systems.
On Wednesday, the Prisoners’ Media Office issued an urgent warning, highlighting a perilous increase in tensions within Israeli detention facilities. The office accused Israeli authorities of systematically targeting the leaders of the Palestinian prisoners’ movement with violent assaults and heightened psychological pressure.
A statement from the office reports that repression units forcibly removed several senior detainees, including Abdullah Barghouti, Bilal Barghouti, and Ahed Ghalmeh, into the prison yards, where they were subjected to baton beatings until bleeding ensued. These attacks have been characterized as intentional efforts to crush their spirit and intimidate other prisoners—efforts the office claims have been unsuccessful.
The campaign has reportedly reached beyond the confines of prison, with the family of long-standing detainee Marwan Barghouti allegedly facing security threats and coercive tactics. These actions are seen as part of a wider psychological warfare strategy intended to weaken the morale of the prisoners’ leadership.
Reports have emerged highlighting unprecedented conditions in detention facilities, as described by the authorities. Detainees are allegedly subjected to daily physical abuse, intentional deprivation of food, exposure to severe cold, and denial of essential winter clothing and blankets. Rapid spread of disease is occurring, and systematic medical neglect is being used as a method of gradual harm, marking one of the most severe periods the prisoners’ movement has faced in recent decades.
The Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs announced on Wednesday that their legal representatives have recently conducted visits to detainees located in Ofer, Damon, Gilboa, and Etzion prisons, where they have noted a swift decline in conditions.
Reports from detainees reveal a critical lack of essential supplies, including food, clothing, and hygiene products. Additionally, there have been persistent denials of medical treatment. The absence of health oversight and deliberate medical neglect have led to the spread of skin, respiratory, and intestinal diseases throughout the prison. These conditions are particularly alarming for sick and elderly inmates, presenting significant health risks.
Reports have emerged detailing continuous physical and psychological mistreatment of detainees. This includes instances of beatings, aggressive searches, collective punishments, and extended periods of solitary confinement. The situation is further exacerbated by severe overcrowding, where detainees are confined to small, inadequate spaces that fall short of basic humane living conditions.
The commission has reported the case of Fadi Awda, a 41-year-old from Tulkarm, who has been detained since 2023 and is experiencing significant health challenges. Awda suffers from complete paralysis on his right side, and his health has severely declined, with numerous ulcers forming on his body due to inadequate medical care and the absence of essential medication.
Awda is in urgent need of a permanent wheelchair to enable access to bathroom facilities and essential medical supplies, due to an inability to move independently. The commission has highlighted a complete lack of minimum healthcare standards and has issued a warning that his significant weight loss poses an immediate threat to his life.
**WATCH:** A Palestinian detainee, recently released from imprisonment, shares a vivid account of the expressions observed on the faces of his jailers.
Reports have indicated that female Palestinian detainees in Damon Prison encounter similar repressive measures as their male counterparts. These include arbitrary detention, rigorous interrogation processes, and a lack of fair legal protections. Within the facility, they undergo frequent degrading searches, collective punishments, limited family visits, and deprivation of essential needs.
Deliberate medical neglect persists as one of the gravest infractions, as treatment is postponed and crucial examinations are withheld. These violations are further exacerbated by isolation protocols, unwarranted transfers, and ongoing psychological pressures.
Around 50 Palestinian women are presently detained in Israeli custody, according to recent reports.
