Report: Dangerous Escalation in Medical Negligence Policy Against Prisoners in Occupation Prisons

SadaNews - The Palestinian Authority for Prisoners and Released Prisoners stated that the testimonies and statements it has gathered from detainees in Israeli occupation prisons confirm the escalation of deliberate medical negligence and their deprivation of the most basic human rights guaranteed by international law.

In a statement issued today, Wednesday, the Authority explained that its legal team has conducted a series of visits to several prisons, where it closely observed the harsh detention conditions experienced by prisoners and listened to accounts and testimonies affirming their exposure to systematic medical negligence.

The Authority indicated that detainees in "Ofer Prison" are subjected to medical negligence manifested in the deliberate procrastination in providing necessary treatment, deprivation from regular medical examinations, in addition to the lack of provision of basic personal necessities, foremost among them clothing and blankets, as well as the continued deprivation of their rights to go out to the "fawra" (recreation area) for long periods, which has exacerbated their health and psychological suffering.

In "Gilboa Prison", the prisoners conveyed a highly alarming picture of the ongoing policy of medical negligence and the lack of availability of necessary medications and treatments, where the case of prisoner Abed Ahmed Smara (43 years old) stands out, who suffers from diabetes, in addition to severe and chronic kidney pain, and noticeable hearing impairment, amid the obstinacy of the prison administration and its refusal to provide the appropriate treatment or transfer him to specialized medical authorities. The prisoners also complained about the irregularity of outings to the "fawra," the imposition of strict restrictions on it, in addition to the poor quality and small quantity of food that does not meet the minimum nutritional needs.

Regarding "Damon Prison", the female detainees confirmed that the detention conditions are no less severe, as they are forced to sleep on the ground due to the acute shortage of beds, in addition to the poor quality of food and the lack of recreational time, alongside frequent humiliating and provocative daily inspections, which constitutes a clear violation of their rights and human dignity.

The Authority for Prisoners and Released Prisoners affirmed that what is happening inside occupation prisons amounts to serious violations of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, holding the occupation authorities fully responsible for the lives and health security of the prisoners.

The Authority stressed that it will continue its legal movements at both the local and international levels, calling on international human rights and humanitarian organizations for urgent intervention and pressure on the occupation to stop these dangerous policies and to ensure the provision of necessary medical care and improvement of detention conditions in a manner that preserves the dignity and rights of the prisoners.

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