RAMALLAH (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The Commission of Detainees Affairs affirmed on Monday the continuation of the poor living, economic, and detention conditions experienced by Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli Megiddo prison, imposed on them following the escalation policy of repression that began on October 7th of last year.
The committee, in a statement following its lawyer’s visit to the prison on Sunday, explained that the prison administration still confines prisoners in extremely narrow sections, with rooms converted into cells, and the beds inside the room are very few compared to the number of prisoners, reaching sometimes up to 15 prisoners in one room, the majority of whom sleep on the floor due to overcrowding.
Prisoners visited by the committee’s lawyer indicated that the food remains scarce and of poor quality, their weight is rapidly decreasing, their health conditions deteriorating, and a shortage of hygiene supplies such as shampoo, shaving blades, nail clippers, and sanitizers.
This has led to the emergence of skin diseases such as fungi, bacteria, and others, with their spread increasing due to their lack of underwear and being prevented from taking out their covers and mattresses for ventilation.
Among the inhumane practices imposed on prisoners in Megiddo, they are given a plastic spoon for each prisoner and a plastic plate for every two prisoners, which are single-use and they are forced to use them for a whole week before they are changed.
The prisoners concluded their meeting with the lawyer by discussing the use of high-intensity lighting as punishment, where the administration deliberately illuminates powerful spotlights inside the rooms around the clock, a new method adopted about a month ago.
During the past months, electricity was allowed for only four hours, specifically from 6 pm to 10 pm, and often they are deprived of it for several days, according to the mood of the guards.
