Seven Palestinian detainees have attempted to commit suicide at the Israeli Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank due to the “brutality of jailers,” the Palestinian Prisoners and Freed Prisoners Affairs Authority said.
A lawyer from the Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Authority, who recently visited Ofer prison, said the seven detainees had attempted to commit suicide due to the poor detention conditions and the brutality of the jailers.
“As they are subjected to starvation and medical neglect, prisoners have come to prefer death to this miserable life,” he added.
“Prisoners are subjected to beatings during arrest and in detention. If a prisoner is late for the count or late waking up at 4 a.m., he is beaten and abused.”
According to the lawyer, a detainee suffered severe burns while taking a shower with excessively hot water, a situation resulting from the prison administration’s control over water temperature. This detainee has not received medical treatment for the burns.
Additionally, Amr Abu Khalil, a cancer patient, was assaulted while being transferred for chemotherapy treatment, only to later be informed that his treatment session had been canceled.
Another detainee, Bashir Zaghloul Khatib from Birzeit, has been subjected to severe beatings during his arrest and has lost over 12 kilograms since his detention on February 18, 2023.
The lawyer also highlighted the severe overcrowding in the prison, with at least 11 detainees confined to each cell. Five of them must sleep on the floor while the others share metal bunk beds. They lack basic necessities, including adequate clothing, blankets, and food.
The number of Palestinian detainees from the West Bank held in the Israeli prisons has risen to about 9,855 since the start of the Gaza genocidal war on October 7.
The Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir recently called for the execution of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons by shooting them in the head.
