Palestinian Prisoners Not Getting Any Care: NGO
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The group Physicians for Human Rights in occupied Palestine has raised concerns over the dire health situation faced by Palestinians, both in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, emphasizing the lack of medical access and escalating human rights violations.
Guy Shalev, executive director of Physicians for Human Rights in occupied Palestine, stated that the NGO has been actively monitoring the impact of Israeli attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system.
"There are more than 20,000 Palestinians who await medical evacuation in Gaza who can’t be treated there and can’t get out," Shalev told Al Jazeera, noting that only a few hundred have been permitted to leave since May.
In the occupied West Bank, the organization is collaborating with Palestinians to document incidents of "settler violence and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian communities" while also seeking to aid prisoners.
"Access is very restricted. For instance, the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) has not had any access to any Israeli prison in the past year, which is a dire violation of prisoners’ human rights and of international law," Shalev explained.
Shalev noted that the NGO gathers information through contacts with hundreds of individuals via their legal representatives.
"We’re receiving numerous medical requests that we are unable to fully address due to the overwhelming volume and scale of violations," he said.
"We are currently attempting to meet the needs of individuals who weigh as little as 40kg (88lb) and are in severely deteriorated health conditions after months of inadequate medical care and nutrition," Shalev added.
Israel has faced international criticism for its treatment of Palestinian prisoners over several decades. The issue began after the Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza. Since then, thousands of Palestinians, including civilians, have been detained under Israeli military law, often without formal charges in a process known as administrative detention Detainees have reported harsh conditions, including inadequate medical care, solitary confinement, physical abuse, psychological and sexual tortures.
One of the most controversial practices is the use of torture during interrogations, especially in cases involving security threats. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned these practices, accusing Israel of violating international law, specifically the Geneva Conventions.
Many countries in the world and organizations like the United Nations have condemned the treatment of Palestinian prisoners, calling for reforms and an end to practices like administrative detention. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has even opened investigations into potential war crimes, adding pressure for Israel to improve its prisoner policies.