RAMALLAH, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Approximately 80% of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons are suffering from scabies, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS), which has warned of worsening health conditions, severe overcrowding, inadequate medical treatment, and escalating abuse.
In a briefing based on legal visits to dozens of Palestinian prisoners during October and early November 2026, the PPS documented widespread complaints of skin infections, repeated prison raids, physical assaults, and medical neglect.
The PPS said the spread of scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation, has been aggravated by shortages of clean clothing, poor hygiene, overcrowding, and inadequate treatment.
It accused Israeli prison authorities of failing to provide effective medical care or address the conditions contributing to the reported outbreak.
Scabies spreads amid severe hygiene and medical shortages
According to the PPS, approximately four out of five Palestinian prisoners are affected by scabies, including women and children.
The PPS reported that numerous shower facilities at the Negev Prison have stopped functioning, further limiting prisoners’ ability to maintain basic hygiene.
It also highlighted severe shortages of clothing and bedding, which it said have contributed to deteriorating living conditions.
Women prisoners have reported persistent itching and sleep deprivation, with some saying prison authorities dismissed their symptoms as allergies.
The PPS cited medical tests reportedly conducted on recently released women prisoners that confirmed scabies infections, raising further concerns about the adequacy of diagnosis and treatment inside detention facilities.
Without appropriate medical care and improved hygiene conditions, the PPS warned, infections could continue spreading among prisoners living in overcrowded cells.
Prison raids leave detainees injured
The briefing also documented repeated raids by special units of the Israeli Prison Service, involving beatings, police dogs, tear gas, and rubber-coated bullets.
According to prisoners’ testimonies collected by the PPS, the raids have resulted in broken teeth, fractured ribs, bruises, and other injuries.
At the Negev Prison, one detainee reportedly sustained a tendon injury to his hand during a raid and requires surgery.
In Section 24, a raid on October 28 involved physical assaults, the confiscation of mattresses, and the use of tear gas and rubber-coated bullets. Three prisoners were wounded during the raid.
In Section 26, another prisoner had two teeth broken during an assault.
The PPS said the accounts gathered from different detention facilities indicate recurring patterns of mistreatment rather than isolated incidents.
Overcrowding and mattress confiscations worsen conditions
Beyond the reported assaults, the organization described harsh daily living conditions inside Israeli prisons.
It said prison authorities routinely remove mattresses during the day, forcing detainees to sit on bare floors or metal beds.
Severe overcrowding has also left some prisoners sleeping on the floor.
The PPS warned that these conditions are particularly dangerous for older detainees and prisoners with chronic illnesses, who may already have limited access to medical care.
It also reported that women prisoners face food shortages, invasive searches, inadequate clothing, and denial of basic healthcare.
Combined with the reported spread of scabies, the organization said these conditions are placing prisoners’ physical and psychological well-being at serious risk.
PPS calls for urgent international intervention
The PPS said testimonies collected during legal visits point to a broader pattern of torture, deprivation of food, physical abuse, and medical neglect in Israeli detention facilities.
It called on international human rights organizations and relevant legal bodies to intervene urgently, investigate the reported violations, and hold those responsible accountable.
According to figures cited by the organization, more than 9,300 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including approximately 90 women.
The PPS warned that without urgent improvements in medical treatment, sanitation, and detention conditions, the health of thousands of Palestinian prisoners could deteriorate further.
