Over 10,700 Palestinians detained in West Bank since October 7
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Among those arrested are a Palestinian woman, a journalist, and a cancer patient, as well as former detainees like Jamal al-Hindi, who had spent 22 years in Israeli prisons.
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Israeli army forces positioned at the entrance of the Tulkarm camp for Palestinian refugees inspect a vehicle used by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society arriving at the scene, during a raid on the camp in the north of the occupied West Bank on September 12, 2024. (AFP)
Israeli occupation forces detained at least 35 individuals, including a child and former detainees, in the occupied West Bank over the last 24 hours.
Among those arrested are a Palestinian woman, a journalist, and a cancer patient, as well as former detainees like Jamal al-Hindi, who had spent 22 years in Israeli prisons.
The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, in collaboration with the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), stated in a joint announcement that most of the detentions occurred in the Qalqilya governorate, with additional arrests in Ramallah, Beit Lahm, Jenin, Nablus, and al-Quds.
These operations were marked by extensive raids, mistreatment, assaults, threats against detainees and their families, and acts of vandalism and destruction of homes.
PPS and the Commission confirmed that the total number of Palestinians detained in the occupied West Bank since October 7 has exceeded 10,700, excluding those arrested from the Gaza Strip.
This count includes individuals detained from their homes, at military checkpoints, those who surrendered under duress, and those taken hostage.
'Israel' detains at least 94 Palestinian women
At least 94 Palestinian women are currently detained in Israeli jails, according to the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society.
Most of these women are held in Damon Prison in northern "Israel". The organizations noted that this figure is likely an underestimate, as many women are held in various detention facilities without any information being provided by Israeli authorities.
“Women are being subjected to torture, starvation, and medical crimes. Some are placed in isolated cells and subjected to strip searches,” the organizations reported.
They added, “Twenty-three women are being held under administrative detention without charge or trial, while most of the rest are detained for alleged ‘incitement,’ including students, lawyers, journalists, activists, and mothers.”
Skin diseases spreading among Palestinian detainees
Meamwhile, the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission has raised alarms about the serious risk of skin diseases, particularly scabies, spreading among detainees, which poses a significant threat to their health. This situation has led the Israeli Prison Services (IPS) to suspend lawyer visits at several prisons due to the outbreak.
In a recent statement, the Commission expressed deep concern about the rapid spread of this disease among minor detainees in Ofer Prison, where symptoms like pimples, boils, and skin redness have begun to appear, causing severe itching and pain that disrupt their sleep.
The Commission urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to take action on behalf of all detainees, especially minors. It highlighted that poor hygiene, a lack of cleaning supplies and disinfectants, limited washing opportunities, and insufficient clothing and blankets create an environment conducive to the spread of such diseases.
Notably, Ofer Prison houses the majority of minor detainees, amounting to 150 out of a total of 260 detainees. The commission criticized the lack of appropriate care for these young individuals, emphasizing that their age and vulnerability are often exploited to intensify their suffering.
It also noted that the living and health conditions in Ofer Prison remain dire, with ongoing punishments and escalating violence. Policies of beatings, starvation, and deprivation are wreaking havoc on the detainees’ well-being.
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