Palestinian Foreign Ministry urges urgent action over detainee abuses

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has sent urgent, identical letters to relevant international bodies, warning of ongoing severe and systematic violations committed by Israeli authorities against Palestinian detainees.

The ministry stated that thousands of Palestinian prisoners are being held in harsh and inhumane conditions, including severe overcrowding, poor nutrition, and a lack of drinking water, as well as deprivation of hygiene supplies, clothing, and adequate bedding. It also noted that detainees are subjected to prolonged solitary confinement, shackling, and assaults during transfers to clinics and hospitals, in addition to being denied family visits and independent oversight.

The ministry emphasized that these conditions, combined with a lack of medical care, have led to a serious deterioration in the health of many detainees, with reported cases of organ failure, permanent disabilities, limb amputations, and the deaths of some prisoners in detention centers.

Calls for international pressure and independent investigations

The ministry warned that the continuation of these practices reflects a deliberate policy to strip Palestinian detainees of their basic rights and endanger their lives. It called on the international community to exert real pressure on Israeli authorities to end medical neglect, torture, mistreatment, and arbitrary detention.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry demanded the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, especially children, women, and the sick, and the provision of necessary medical care without delay. It also stressed the importance of conducting independent investigations into all cases of detainee deaths in prisons and detention centers, as well as into the conditions of their detention and treatment, the return of withheld bodies, and holding those responsible for violations accountable.