Latest news with #PalestinianPrisoners'AffairsCommission
Middle East Eye
18-07-2025
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Gaza doctor Abu Safiya given 'two spoonfuls of rice a day' in Israeli jail
A lawyer representing Palestinian Dr Hussam Abu Safiya has raised concerns over his deteriorating health and routine torture in Israeli detention, where inmates are given only two spoonfuls of rice a day. In an interview with Arab48, publiched Thursday, lawyer Gheed Kassem said that the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, located north of the Gaza Strip, had faced severe physical assault that resulted in bruising to his head, neck, rib cage, and back. When Dr Abu Safiya requested medical assistance for complications stemming from the beatings, including an irregular heartbeat, his request was denied. Medical neglect and abuse in Israeli-run prisons have been well-documented, with such practices reportedly intensifying since the events of 7 October 2023. In early May, the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission said that sick Palestinian detainees faced "deliberate and systematic medical neglect," alongside hunger and torture negatively affecting their health conditions. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The statement came after the death of 60-year-old prisoner Mohyee al-Din Fahmi Najem, who suffered from chronic illnesses and was denied proper medical treatment during his detention. Abu Safya, who remains in solitary confinement at the Ofer military prison - which houses 450 detainees from the Gaza Strip - weighs no more than 60 kilograms, according to his lawyer. She said that since his detention in late December, the senior paediatrician and neonatologist had lost 40 kilograms, describing his body as "emaciated." Additionally, Dr Abu Safiya is held in an underground cell that is completely isolated and receives no natural light. "He knows nothing about the outside world, and he is still wearing winter clothes," Kassem explained. "Prisoners inside Ofer prison endure incredibly harsh and catastrophic conditions," she added. The lawyer described how Palestinians imprisoned there are allowed only two spoonfuls of rice a day, while both sugar and salt are completely banned "to prevent any rise in the happiness hormone, even a small one, from eating sugar". "This is in addition to the frequent cell raids, the torture, and the constant searches that prisoners are subjected to." The most recent case of torture and medical neglect in Israeli detention involves the death of 53-year-old Samir al-Rifai from Jenin. According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission, Rifai died seven days after his arrest, raising the death toll of Palestinian prisoners who have died under Israeli detention since the beginning of the war on Gaza to 74. The father of five had reportedly suffered from heart issues and needed intensive medical care. Sources suggest that his death resulted from ill-treatment and the severe conditions in prison, though no official reports have been released. Lack of rights Abu Safiya has been categorised as an "unlawful combatant" by Israeli authorities, despite him being a civilian doctor. This classification means there is no formal indictment against him. Iron bars, electric shocks, dogs and cigarette burns: How Palestinians are tortured in Israeli detention Read More » "The designation of an unlawful combatant renders a prisoner without rights," Kassem said. "Israeli law strips those with this designation of their natural human rights inside prisons." The Kassem added that prison authorities also create "successive obstacles for lawyers," with each visit needing to be scheduled four months in advance. Even then, it could be cancelled. Additionally, legal representatives are often left waiting for long stretches of time, and when their clients are finally brought in for the visit, they are often assaulted on the way as they are crawling on the ground in handcuffs. "The interview is conducted under a microscope, under the eyes and ears of the jailers. If the jailers feel that the visit has boosted the prisoner's morale, they assault him in revenge," she said. Detainees are also subjected to constant psychological torture, Kassem added, including being exposed to graphic images and depressing news as well as being told false information about the death of loved ones. "The first question every prisoner asks me is about their families and whether they are still alive," she said.
Saba Yemen
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Zionist enemy issues, renews administrative detention orders for 64 Palestinian detainees
Ramallah - Saba: The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission and the Prisoners' Club reported on Tuesday that the Zionist enemy authorities have issued and renewed administrative detention orders for 64 Palestinian detainees. In a joint statement, the Commission and the Club stated that the number of administrative detainees as of June has reached 3,562. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Jordan News
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Injuries Reported as Israeli Forces Raid Several Towns in Occupied Jerusalem - Jordan News
Injuries Reported as Israeli Forces Raid Several Towns in Occupied Jerusalem Several Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation on Sunday as Israeli occupation forces stormed multiple neighborhoods in occupied Jerusalem. اضافة اعلان According to a statement by the Jerusalem Governorate, Israeli forces raided the home of Ahmad Badr in the town of Al-Isawiya, northeast of Jerusalem, and detained him. During the incursion, soldiers heavily fired toxic tear gas towards residential homes, causing numerous cases of suffocation. In a related incident, Israeli forces also stormed the Kafr Aqab neighborhood in northern Jerusalem early Sunday morning, firing a barrage of tear gas canisters toward residential buildings. The attack led to a fire breaking out on a balcony of one apartment. No direct injuries were reported. Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces carried out a wide-scale arrest campaign, detaining 40 Palestinians across the West Bank, including children and former prisoners. In a joint statement, the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners Club said the arrests were concentrated in Hebron, with others reported in Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. The statement noted that Israeli forces have intensified arrest operations and field interrogations in the West Bank, alongside ongoing mass killings in Gaza and field executions and home demolitions particularly in Jenin and Tulkarm. Since the beginning of the war, the total number of arrests in the West Bank has risen to approximately 17,500, including both those who remain in custody and those who were released. This figure excludes thousands of arrests from Gaza. For the third consecutive day, Israeli forces have imposed arbitrary and oppressive measures at military checkpoints across the West Bank, enforcing a strict security cordon and a complete lockdown on all cities, villages, and camps due to the war on Iran. These measures have paralyzed daily life throughout the occupied West Bank. — (Petra)
Saba Yemen
10-06-2025
- Health
- Saba Yemen
Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs: Deliberate medical neglect of those afflicted with "skypox" in Megiddo prison
Ramallah – Saba: The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission said on Tuesday that "skypox" is widespread in Megiddo Prison, due to the prison administration's delay in providing the necessary medication to infected prisoners. The Commission quoted its lawyer, speaking in a statement during a visit to a number of prisoners in Megiddo Prison, as saying that prisoner Ahmed Mahmoud Abdel Razzaq (32 years old) from Tulkarm is being held in Section 3, Room 1, at this prison. He was arrested on April 25, 2024, and remains detained. He has a court date scheduled for July 13. The Commission stated that the prisoner suffers from "skypox" and that boils have begun to appear on his body. He has not yet been given any antibiotics or medication. It is worth noting that he lost approximately 15 kilograms of weight after his arrest and was beaten during his arrest. Regarding the general situation in the prison, the Commission reported testimony from prisoners visited by the Commission's lawyers, stating that hot water was not provided daily. Regarding shampoo, three bottles were distributed per week, in addition to one roll of tissues per prisoner per week. The prisoners agreed that, depending on the mood of the jailer on duty, prisoners were assaulted, beaten, and humiliated, and sometimes subjected to repression for the most trivial reasons. The Prisoners' Information Office had previously reported that five Palestinian prisoners had been martyred in Israeli enemy prisons, four of them from the Gaza Strip, during the month of May. This brings the number of martyrs from the prisoner movement since October 7, 2023, to 70. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Saba Yemen
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Occupier arrests 20 Palestinians in West Bank
Ramallah - Saba: Since last night until Wednesday morning (20), Israeli forces have arrested at least (20) Palestinian citizens from the West Bank, including three women, in addition to released prisoners. The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club said in a joint statement that Israeli forces are continuing their arrests and field investigations in the West Bank at an escalating pace. This comes in light of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, which is accompanied by attacks and threats against detainees and their families, in addition to the vandalism and destruction of citizens' homes, and the confiscation of money and cars. Furthermore, the Israeli enemy continues its siege of the towns of Burqin and Kafr ad-Dik for the eighth consecutive day. There are no clear data on the arrests and field investigations, as a result of the ongoing aggression in the two towns, accompanied by field executions and the conversion of homes into military barracks. It is noteworthy that the Israeli enemy continues its aggression against the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm, carrying out arrests and field investigations for months, amounting to approximately 1,000 arrests in the two cities, including those who were arrested and subsequently released. It is worth noting that these arrests come in light of the comprehensive Israeli aggression waged against the Palestinian people since the beginning of the war of extermination. During this aggression, the enemy has arrested approximately 17,000 Palestinian citizens from the West Bank, in addition to dozens of Palestinian workers and thousands from Gaza. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
