Ramallah, MINA – The Palestine Center for Prisoners’ Studies has accused Israeli authorities of deliberately withholding essential medical assistive devices from Palestinian detainees, a policy it says is exacerbating their suffering and limiting their ability to cope with disabilities and injuries, according to the Palestine Information Center.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Center revealed that since October 7, Israeli authorities have banned families from depositing money into prisoners’ canteen accounts to purchase necessary medical items. It added that prison administrations also refuse to supply these items free of charge.
According to the Center, hundreds of prisoners are in urgent need of basic medical devices, including prosthetic limbs for amputees, prescription glasses, hearing aids, breathing devices, inhalers for chronic asthma patients, as well as crutches and wheelchairs.
The organization directly blamed Israeli authorities for deliberately withholding these devices, stating the policy is being carried out under directives from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has repeatedly threatened further punitive measures against detainees.
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The Center further reported that more than 1,500 prisoners suffer from various illnesses, including 27 diagnosed with cancer. It described the situation as a policy of “collective health punishment” through deliberate delays in treatment and systematic medical neglect, a policy it says has already led to the deaths of dozens of detainees in custody.
The statement stressed that medical neglect in Israeli prisons is one of the most dangerous tools used against detainees, with medical facilities sometimes lacking even a doctor. Dozens of prisoners with life-threatening conditions such as kidney failure, heart attacks, and arterial blockages that have gone without appropriate care for years due to deliberate delays.
The Center said these practices constitute a clear violation of international law, particularly Article 92 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which requires regular medical examinations for detainees and ongoing health monitoring. It called on international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), to urgently intervene by providing necessary medical equipment and sending specialized medical teams.
According to the Center’s data, approximately 9,600 Palestinian prisoners are currently held in Israeli custody, including 83 women and 350 children, spread across more than 27 prisons, detention centers, and interrogation facilities. This figure marks an 83% increase in the number of prisoners since October 2023, representing one of the highest levels recorded in decades.[]
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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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