Haaretz investigation reveals starvation, beatings and inhumane conditions in Israeli prisons

Five Palestinian former detainees have reported starvation, beatings and inadequate medical care in Israeli prisons, according to a Haaretz investigation published on 8^th October.

The investigation, by journalists Hagar Shezaf and Nir Hasson, was based on testimonies from five Palestinians released over the past 18 months. Their accounts describe conditions that they say have affected thousands of Palestinian prisoners since the war on the Gaza Strip began.

The testimonies covered Megiddo, Nafha and Ketziot prisons, as well as Ofer and Damon prisons and a military detention centre in Huwwara.

According to the investigation, the five former detainees said they had lost between 15 and 50 per cent of their body weight during detention. They also described physical assaults, collective punishment, repeated humiliation, widespread scabies infections and delays in receiving medical treatment.

They estimated that conditions for detainees from the Gaza Strip could be even harsher.

Among those who spoke to the newspaper was Palestinian journalist Ali Samoudi, 59, who said he had lost about half his body weight during a year in administrative detention. He was released without being formally charged, according to the investigation.

Samoudi described what he said were assaults inside the prisons, as well as shortages of food and medical care. He also reported suffering from several health problems after his release.

Israeli authorities said when they arrested him that they suspected him of transferring money to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, an allegation he denied, according to Haaretz.

The investigation also included the testimony of journalist Samer Khweira, who said he had seen detainees suffering from malnutrition and scabies so severely that they struggled to move. He said he had also caught scabies during his detention.

Khweira added that he still did not know why he had been arrested. He was released without standing trial, according to the report.