Palestinian group warns of worsening health of female prisoners
The group says a cancer patient at Damon Prison is seriously ill because she has been denied treatment, and that scabies is widespread among detainees.
Health conditions are worsening for about 90 Palestinian women held at Damon Prison, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners' Society said on Wednesday, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
Amjad al-Najjar, the group's spokesperson, said the women are held in harsh conditions and that cancer patients among them are being denied medical treatment and necessary examinations.
Speaking to Voice of Palestine radio, al-Najjar said Amal al-Rifi, a 60-year-old cancer patient, is seriously deteriorating because she has been denied treatment.
He called for her release, along with the release of other sick female prisoners.
Al-Najjar also said around 80 percent of Palestinian prisoners have scabies amid a widespread outbreak and a lack of effective medical treatment.
The disease causes severe pain and itching that keeps prisoners from sleeping, he said, adding that recently released prisoners came out with bodies covered in blisters and infections.
He also warned against the continued use of administrative detention, saying more than 3,500 Palestinians are currently held under the policy.
He said detention orders are routinely issued and renewed without formal charges being brought against those held.
Administrative detention allows authorities to hold people without formal charges, under orders that can be renewed, and Palestinian rights groups have long criticized its use against Palestinians.
The Palestinian Prisoners' Society advocates for Palestinian prisoners and detainees and regularly publishes accounts of conditions in Israeli custody.
