Tel Aviv: Israeli policies of medical neglect and starvation are worsening the plight of Palestinian detainees in the Negev Prison in southern Israel, a Palestinian commission said on Sunday. In a statement, the Commission of Detainees’ Affairs cited testimonies of Palestinian detainees about their bad conditions in the detention camp.
According to Anadolu Agency, the commission highlighted cases of detainees suffering from severe health issues without receiving adequate medical care. One such case involves Mohammed Suleiman Ghanem, a 29-year-old Palestinian from Anabta town near Tulkarem in the northern West Bank, who has been detained since August 31, 2023. Ghanem suffers from a neurological disorder, experiencing frequent episodes of dizziness and fainting, sometimes lasting up to 30 minutes. His lawyer reported that Ghanem endures severe pain in his left knee due to beatings and torture inside the prison, resulting in significant weight loss of around 45 kilograms.
The commission also documented the cas
e of Mahmoud Abdul Aziz Sweiti, 50, who has been jailed since 2007 and suffers from scabies without receiving any medical treatment. The statement emphasized that Sweiti receives no treatment from the prison clinic and lacks winter clothes and blankets.
Another detainee, Rafat Salem, 35, suffers from blood sensitivity issues and back disc problems but has not received any medical attention. Similarly, Raed Abdul Rahim Sous, a 24-year-old detainee, suffers from severe joint pain in his back, rendering him unable to walk on his left leg.
The commission underscored that these testimonies are part of a broader pattern of “medical neglect and starvation” that has intensified since October 7, 2023. Currently, around 11,600 Palestinians are detained in Israeli prisons, excluding those from Gaza held in military camps, according to Palestinian figures.
The situation in Gaza has further deteriorated with Israel’s ongoing offensive since October 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediat
e cease-fire. The onslaught has resulted in over 43,600 casualties and left the enclave nearly uninhabitable. Furthermore, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the blockaded enclave.