Scabies Behind Bars: A Disease Turning Palestinian Prisoners' Lives into Daily Suffering

A report highlights the suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons due to the spread of scabies, amid overcrowding, lack of hygiene, and inadequate medical care. It includes testimonies from released prisoners describing the progression of itching into boils, sores, and inability to move. The Palestinian Prisoner's Club confirms at least ten female prisoners infected in Damon prison, linking the spread to humidity and overcrowding since May 2024.

A report from the Palestine Online website exposes the outbreak of scabies among Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, turning their lives into daily suffering. The report relies on testimonies from released prisoners who describe the disease progressing from mild itching to boils, sores, and infections, leading to an inability to move or perform prayers. It mentions that released prisoner "Q.S." (28 years old) was infected in Naqab prison, where the infection spread across his body and deprived him of sleep. Another prisoner, "Abu Taim" from Bethlehem, reached a state of inability to move and needed help eating and bathing. The Palestinian Prisoner's Club confirms that at least ten female prisoners in Damon prison have been infected, including pregnant women and young girls, out of over 90 female prisoners. The club links the spread to poor health conditions: humidity, lack of cleaning materials, overcrowding, and poor ventilation. It notes that the disease has been spreading since May 2024, and some infected individuals suffered for months or were reinfected. Human rights organizations, including "Physicians for Human Rights," have submitted petitions for treatment, but the response has been insufficient. The report highlights deliberate medical neglect in the absence of proper healthcare.