RAMALLAH, January 30, 2016 (WAFA) – As the region has been affected by a freezing cold front, Palestinian detainees incarcerated in solitary confinement in Israeli jails complained about their unbearable living conditions, including lack of sufficient blankets and heating methods, Saturday noted the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs.

Lawyer Heba Masalha, who was allowed to visit detainees held in isolation in Israeli Megiddo Jail, said that isolated detainees suffer from the extreme cold as the Israeli prison service refuses to provide them with sufficient blankets; each prisoner is provided with a single blanket, which does not protect them from the extremely cold temperatures.

The region has been affected by an extremely cold front for the past week, where temperatures have dropped below zero degrees Celsius.

The lawyer reported on detainees as saying that they are unable to withstand the unbearable freezing temperatures. The lawyer quoted detainees as stating that death would be more merciful than suffering in ‘this’ freezing cold.

The detainees further complained about the predawn provocative raid and searches of their cells by the prison guards, noting that their cells fail to meet the minimum standard conditions, including lack of hot water.

Palestinian prisoners are held in overcrowded cells that lack basic health standards, including the infestation of insects and rats, extreme cold and lack of heating methods.

T.R.