RAMALLAH, January 2, 2025 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) and the Palestinian Authority's Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs have released new testimonies from Gaza detainees incarcerated in the Naqab Prison, all of which affirm Israel's use of torture as a weapon of war.
These accounts shed light on the brutality and systematic torture faced by detainees, reflecting the extreme violence and dehumanization they endure at the hands of Israeli forces.
The testimonies also highlight the ongoing health crisis within the prisons, particularly the spread of scabies, which is being used as a form of torture.
The majority of detainees interviewed reported their bodies being covered in sores and boils due to the scabies infection. Several detainees appeared visibly shivering, especially those housed in the tents section of the prison, where freezing temperatures exacerbate their suffering.
These detainees continue to endure unimaginable conditions, having been subjected to torture, humiliation, and severe deprivation since their detention.
The Commission and the PPS emphasized that these testimonies are part of a larger set of accounts, all of which reflect a consistent pattern of violent abuse, specifically targeting Gaza detainees.
The testimonies come at a time when the number of fatalities among Palestinian prisoners continues to rise, particularly those from Gaza, with 54 confirmed victims since the start of the ongoing Israeli genocide. Many other detainees, particularly from Gaza, remain unaccounted for and are feared to have been killed under mysterious circumstances.
One detainee recounted his horrific experience during his detention in March 2024. Known only by his initials (M.R.), he was detained in Sheikh Zayed City and subjected to relentless torture from the very moment of his detention.
He described being shackled, blindfolded, and denied movement for 24 hours a day. During the interrogation, he endured severe physical abuse, and at one point, he was coerced into signing a fabricated confession.
The detainee revealed that the spread of scabies continues to torment the prisoners at the Negev Prison, with many unable to sleep due to intense itching and rashes.
Another detainee (M.H.) shared a similarly harrowing account of his time in detention. Detained at the Kamal Adwan Hospital, he was subjected to brutal physical abuse, including a full day of continuous beatings, followed by degrading acts like being drenched in sewage and urine.
His detention continued for 27 days in deplorable conditions, where he was kept kneeling, shackled, and blindfolded. He described the feeling of "living death" in the Naqab Prison, where conditions are so dire that it feels like a slow, agonizing end.
Several detainees also reported the constant presence of scabies among the prisoners, with many of them covered in painful boils and rashes. Detainees have not received adequate treatment for the disease, leaving them in constant agony. One of the detainees, (H.R.), who was detained in November 2024, described how they were subjected to hot water torture, and later transferred to the Negev Prison, where the health crisis only worsened due to the spread of scabies.
The stories of suffering continue with detainee (A.N.), who stated that the conditions in prison are so unbearable that death would be a relief. He described the freezing cold, insufficient clothing, lack of food, and the devastating impact of the scabies outbreak, which has claimed the health of many detainees.
Detainee (J.S.) recounted his ongoing struggle with scabies, with his entire body covered in sores. He mentioned that he can no longer walk or stand due to the extreme pain and further health complications resulting from the torturous conditions.
He also recalled the suffering of martyr Ashraf Abu Warda, who passed away on December 29, 2024. Abu Warda had been in the same cell as him and had been severely affected by the harsh conditions, losing his ability to speak, remember, and even stand before his death.
In another account, detainee (S.A.) revealed how prison authorities deliberately confiscate mattresses in the morning and return them only at night, sometimes delaying their return until midnight, subjecting the detainees to freezing temperatures.
M.N
