By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Around 80% of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have scabies amid overcrowding and inadequate treatment, the Palestinian Prisoner Society says.

Key Takeaways

• The Palestinian Prisoner Society estimates that scabies affects around 80% of Palestinian prisoners, including children, citing accounts from current and former detainees.
• Prisoners reported raids involving police dogs, rubber-coated bullets and severe beatings. Some prison sections were raided every two or three days.
• Women at Damon Prison reported itching so severe they could not sleep. The society said prison authorities attributed their symptoms to allergies, while tests after release confirmed scabies in former detainees.

Scabies Spreads amid Clothing Shortages and Overcrowding

Around 80% of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons are suffering from scabies, including women and children, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said Sunday, according to Anadolu and Quds News Network.

The society based its briefing on legal visits to dozens of prisoners in October and early November, as well as testimony from released detainees. It said severe clothing shortages and overcrowding helped spread scabies while prisoners received inadequate treatment. In some sections of Negev Prison, a major breakdown in shower facilities further limited access to washing.

The society said the accounts pointed to a “systematic policy” of abuse, starvation and medical neglect, Anadolu reported. It warned that inadequate food and deteriorating prison conditions were taking a toll on sick and wounded detainees and those with chronic illnesses.

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Negev Prisoners Report Beatings and Serious Injuries

Palestinian detainees told lawyers that special units from the Israel Prison Service raided prison wings with dogs, used rubber-coated bullets and fired weapons the prisoners could not identify. The society said detainees reported burns, temporary loss of movement, broken teeth, fractured ribs and bruising. In some sections, raids took place every two or three days.

At Negev Prison, one detainee identified as A.B. said a raid left him with severed tendons in his hand and an injury that required surgery.

Another, identified as D.H., said officers used gas and fired rubber bullets during an October 28 raid on Section 24, injuring three prisoners. He said officers also stormed cells and severely beat detainees.

In Section 26, a prisoner said two of his teeth were broken in an assault. The society said detainees were barred during the visit from signing powers of attorney needed to pursue their cases. Other prisoners said guards removed mattresses during the day and that overcrowding forced most detainees in some cells to sleep on the floor.

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Damon Prison Authorities Dismiss Symptoms as Allergies

Women held at Damon Prison reported overcrowding, clothing shortages, inadequate food and restricted access to health care. Some described limb spasms, skin bumps and itching severe enough to keep them awake.

According to the society, prison authorities continued to dismiss the symptoms as allergies, even though tests on women after their release confirmed scabies.

The society said the similarities between testimonies from different prisons pointed to a recurring pattern of torture, starvation and medical neglect. It called on international human rights organizations to intervene. More than 9,300 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, including around 90 women, according to the society.

(PC, AA, QNN)