The health conditions of Palestinians held in Israeli occupation prisons are rapidly deteriorating as a result of systematic medical negligence, severe shortages of medicines, and the absence of proper medical follow-up. These violations occur amid a broader pattern of escalating Israeli military aggression that extends beyond the occupied Palestinian territories into neighbouring Syria and Lebanon.
Where Israeli troops penetrate border areas, patrol with military vehicles, carry out search operations, and detain young men including Palestinians, Syrians, and Lebanese, before withdrawing from the areas they enter. In addition, Israeli forces are frequent disrupting the daily lives of civilians, further intensifying the climate of insecurity and intimidation.
Against this backdrop, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs in Palestine reported on Wednesday that Palestinian prisoners are facing an alarming humanitarian crisis inside Israeli detention facilities. According to the commission, persistent medical neglect and critical shortages of essential medicines have led to the spread of numerous illnesses among detainees. Its legal teams documented an extremely complex and dire humanitarian situation across multiple Israeli prisons.
Following field visits, the commission described detention and interrogation centres as harsh and deeply dehumanising environments. Prisoners reported daily repression and intimidation, including degrading searches, collective punishment, and abusive treatment designed to strip them of dignity and break their morale.
Detainees also complained of severe shortages of blankets and clothing, particularly during the cold winter months, as well as a complete denial of family visits. They are frequently subjected to sudden and repeated transfers between prison sections and facilities, a practice widely viewed as a tool of psychological and physical pressure.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office confirmed that Israeli authorities intensified repressive measures throughout December, with specialised prison units launching successive campaigns marked by beatings and collective humiliation of prisoners. The office also reported an increase in harsh solitary confinement, often imposed under conditions of extreme cold and deprivation of basic necessities.
Holding the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the safety and well-being of detainees, the office warned of the grave consequences of ongoing isolation and repression policies. It called on international and human rights organisations to take urgent action to halt the violations and crimes being committed against prisoners inside Israeli prisons.
