Medical neglect, starvation worsen Palestinian detainee conditions in Israel’s Negev Prison
Around 11,600 Palestinians are detained in Israeli prisons, report Palestinian figures. (Courtesy of The Times of Israel)
Israeli policies of medical neglect and starvation are exacerbating the conditions of Palestinian detainees in Negev Prison, southern Israel, according to a statement by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ Affairs on Sunday.
The commission highlighted several testimonies from detainees, including that of Mohammed Suleiman Ghanem, a 29-year-old Palestinian from Anabta, near Tulkarem in the northern West Bank. Detained since Aug. 31, 2023, Ghanem suffers from a neurological disorder, experiencing frequent episodes of dizziness and fainting lasting up to 30 minutes, according to his lawyer.
“Ghanem suffers from severe pain in his left knee due to beatings and torture inside the prison, leading to significant weight loss of around 45 kilograms,” the commission said.
Another detainee, Mahmoud Abdul Aziz Sweiti, 50, has reportedly been suffering from scabies without receiving any medical treatment. Sweiti, imprisoned since 2007, has also been denied winter clothes and blankets, the statement added.
The commission cited additional cases, including that of Rafat Salem, 35, who suffers from blood sensitivity issues and back disc problems, and Raed Abdul Rahim Sous, 24, who endures severe joint pain in his back, making him unable to walk on his left leg, without receiving proper medical care.
The commission described these cases as part of a broader pattern of medical neglect and starvation that has worsened since Israel’s military operations began on Oct. 7, 2023.
Death toll rises in Gaza
According to Palestinian figures, around 11,600 Palestinians are detained in Israeli prisons, excluding detainees from Gaza held in military camps.
Israel has continued its devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 43,600 Palestinians despite a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
Israel now faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the besieged enclave.
