'Israel' tortures, abuses Palestinian detainees in al-Naqab Prison

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 May 2024 17:49
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Palestinian prisoner organizations detail the abuse and torture practiced by the Israeli prison administration on detainees and prisoners in the Negev Prison.

Palestinian prisoners and detainees walk in the yard of Megiddo prison (AFP)

The release of new Palestinian detainees from the Negev Prison, considered the most dangerous Israeli prison, and the testimonies they gave have unveiled the inhumane and harsh conditions that the prisoners and detainees have been subjected to by the Israeli prison administration.

Prisoner organizations confirmed that the situation in the Negev prison remains dire, with the Israeli prison administration imposing punitive measures on prisoners since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip and waging psychological and physical warfare against them under false pretenses.

The organizations detailed the abuse and torture practiced by the Israeli prison administration on Palestinian detainees and prisoners in the prison.

Widespread diseases

The Commission of Detainees and ex-Detainees Affairs reported widespread respiratory, skin, digestive, bacterial, and fungal diseases among detainees and prisoners due to the absence of minimal hygiene and lack of medical care, as well as food deprivation.

The Commission pointed out that the food provided to them is inadequate both in terms of quantity and quality. A meal supposedly meant for 10 is insufficient for one. In addition, the food is often inedible, offered cold, and with a foul smell, causing many detainees and prisoners to lose a significant amount of weight.

Prisoners and detainees in the Negev Prison suffer from significant and deliberate medical neglect, with no treatment or examinations available, the Commission added, emphasizing that those transferred to the prison clinic are immediately subjected to beatings by Israeli occupation forces.

Since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza, prisoners and detainees haven't changed their clothes and only own what they are currently wearing. During lawyers' visits, they are brought in handcuffed, blindfolded, and hunched over.

The Commission mentioned that the Israeli prison administration cuts off electricity from 7 pm to 6 am, forcing them to prostrate with their faces to the ground.

The Israeli prison administration also deprives prisoners of hot water for bathing, as well as of recreation, canteen access, family visits, and telephone communication. They are also prohibited from practicing prayer and reading the Holy Quran book.

Lawyers' visits are also limited and conducted under difficult conditions, with prisoners and detainees often subjected to beatings and threats if they reveal any details of their ill-treatment by the Israeli prison administration.

Poor living conditions

On Sunday, prisoner organizations confirmed the continuation of poor living and detention conditions imposed by the Israeli prison administration on prisoners and detainees in the Negev Prison as part of the escalation policy since October 7, 2023.

According to a lawyer who visited the prison, the Israeli prison administration is still holding detainees and prisoners in very narrow sections crowded with at least 10 to 15 of them.

The lawyer revealed that they are subjected to intense beating, humiliation, and ill-treatment, and they avoid going to the prison clinic for fear of being assaulted by the Israeli occupation forces.

Among the inhumane practices practiced by the Israeli prison administration on the prisoners and detainees in the Negev Prison is depriving them of windows in their rooms, causing them to suffer from skin and respiratory diseases due to lack of ventilation and sunlight exposure.