Palestinian and Arab prisoners in Israeli prisons endure exceptional health conditions. They are subjected to systematic physical and psychological torture that weakens and harms many of them. These methods include denial of proper medical care, deliberate delays in providing treatment to sick and injured prisoners, and humiliation and abuse during arrest and interrogation.

The Israeli occupation employs a dual strategy of weakening both the will and the body, a tragic approach within a system that claims to uphold democracy. Its political and judicial systems legalize torture and psychological pressure on Palestinian and Arab prisoners, setting a precedent rarely matched globally and violating numerous international treaties and conventions.

Overview of Healthcare Neglect

Monitoring the health conditions of prisoners reveals that healthcare services in these prisons are severely inadequate, almost non-existent. This is evidenced by prisoners' testimonies, the rising number of sick detainees, and the deaths among them. Reports from human rights organizations confirm that the Israeli prison administration exploits healthcare as a tool for blackmail and coercion. This approach flagrantly violates Articles 29, 30, and 31 of the Third Geneva Convention and Articles 91 and 92 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which mandate the provision of appropriate treatment, periodic medical examinations, and necessary medications to prisoners.

Key Violations

The medical clinics in Israeli prisons lack basic services, medical supplies, and specialized doctors. The only "treatment" consistently offered is a single type of painkiller (Acamol), used indiscriminately for all ailments. The prisons' administrations frequently delay transferring critical medical cases to hospitals. Worse, when sick or injured prisoners are transferred, they are often transported in unfit, closed vehicles rather than ambulances, with their hands and feet shackled.

The following are some documented health violations against Palestinian and Arab prisoners:

1. Negligence and Delay in Treatment: Repeated neglect, refusal to perform surgeries for sick prisoners, and only providing care after protests by fellow detainees.
2. Inadequate Treatment: Prison doctors treat all illnesses with a single pill or a glass of water, without addressing the specific needs of patients.
3. Lack of Specialists: There are no specialists (e.g., ophthalmologists, ENT doctors) within the prisons.
4. Absence of Emergency Care: Clinics lack night-shift doctors to handle emergencies.
5. No Psychological Care: The absence of psychologists and therapists despite the prevalence of mental health issues among prisoners.
6. No Assistive Devices: Lack of prosthetics, eyeglasses, respiratory aids, and inhalers for those with chronic conditions.
7. Inadequate Nutrition: Meals are unsuitable for prisoners with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
8. No Isolation for Contagious Diseases: The absence of isolation facilities for infectious diseases like scabies or severe viral infections, which spreads illnesses rapidly due to overcrowding.
9. Cruel Transportation Practices: Sick prisoners are transported to hospitals in closed, poorly ventilated vehicles instead of ambulances.
10. Deprivation of Medications: Prisoners with chronic illnesses are often denied their necessary medications as a form of punishment.
11. Poor Living Conditions: Overcrowding, poor ventilation, high humidity, and a severe lack of cleaning supplies exacerbate health problems.
12. Violent Suppression: Use of force and tear gas against prisoners, including the sick, worsening their health conditions.
13. Punitive Measures: Delayed treatment, denial of family visits, night raids, and solitary confinement severely affect prisoners’ mental health.
14. Inadequate Prison Clinics: The Ramla Prison clinic lacks necessary medical supplies and provides treatment conditions that resemble detention rather than care.
15. Neglect of Female Prisoners: Female prisoners lack gynecological specialists, and pregnant detainees often face health neglect, including being shackled during childbirth.
16. Expired Medications: Prisoners have been given expired medications.
17. Interrogation Under Duress: Sick and injured detainees are often interrogated under pressure, exploiting their health conditions.
18. Inhumane Detention Conditions: Poor sanitation, overcrowding, and denial of treatment aggravate prisoners' suffering and jeopardize their health.

Health Statistics

By the end of 2022, over 600 sick prisoners were held in Israeli prisons, facing dire health conditions. This includes:

• 200 prisoners with chronic illnesses.
• 24 prisoners with cancer or tumors.
• 6 paralyzed detainees.
• 33 with eye diseases.
• 34 with kidney diseases.
• 120 wounded by Israeli military gunfire.
• 58 with heart diseases.
• 16 with vascular diseases.
• 79 with orthopedic problems.
• 45 with neurological and psychological disorders.
• 27 with respiratory issues.

Despite these figures, many more prisoners likely suffer undiagnosed conditions due to the lack of comprehensive health examinations.

Conclusion

The deaths of hundreds of prisoners, both inside prisons and shortly after their release, underscore the deliberate use of medical neglect as a slow-killing tool by Israeli authorities. As of the end of 2022, 233 prisoners had died in custody since 1967, with many others succumbing to illnesses acquired during detention. Israeli prisons have become breeding grounds for disease, causing prolonged suffering that continues even after release.

The annual report for 2022 indicates that 15 sick prisoners remain in the Ramla Prison clinic under harsh and deteriorating conditions, with some detained there for over a decade. These ongoing policies and neglect highlight the urgent need for international intervention to ensure proper medical care and uphold prisoners' rights in accordance with international laws and ethical medical practices.