The Palestinian Center for Prisoner Studies warned of the deteriorating conditions of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails due to the soaring temperatures, asserting that the occupation authorities are exploiting heat waves and weather fluctuations to punish the prisoners and exacerbate their suffering.
In a press release, the center explained that the occupation authorities are taking advantage of the harsh weather conditions to intensify the prisoners’ suffering by depriving them of basic ventilation that would alleviate the effects of the extreme heat.
It noted that the occupation prison administration has sealed off ventilation openings in several sections and cells with iron panels, restricting the flow of fresh air.
The center also pointed to the escalation of punitive measures against prisoners since October 7, 2023, when the prison administration removed fans from prisoners’ rooms. Fans were the only available means of mitigating the high temperatures inside the rooms and cells, leading to a decline in living conditions and transforming the detention facilities into a stifling environment that threatens the health and safety of the prisoners.
The center confirmed that Israeli prisons are experiencing unprecedented overcrowding as a result of the widespread arrest campaigns carried out by Israeli forces in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem. This has led prison authorities to place prisoners in cells far exceeding their capacity.
The center added that a large number of prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor in harsh conditions, amidst high temperatures and humidity, and with reduced or completely eliminated recreation time in some prisons.
It explained that prisoners rely on water as their almost sole means of coping with the heat. Many resort to frequently wetting their clothes and blankets to alleviate feelings of suffocation and exhaustion. Meanwhile, the sick, the elderly, and children are suffering from increasing health complications due to these conditions.
The center reported that prison authorities have repeatedly rejected prisoners’ demands for ventilation, the reinstatement of fans, and the reopening of closed windows. It asserted that these policies are part of a deliberate approach aimed at intensifying detention conditions and imposing a harsh environment that negatively impacts the physical and mental health of the detainees.
The Palestinian Center warned that the continuation of these practices constitutes a form of collective punishment against prisoners and exacerbates the health risks they face due to inadequate medical care and deteriorating living conditions in prisons.
The Center called on international, human rights, and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action and pressure the occupying authorities to halt the violations against prisoners and ensure that detention conditions comply with international standards.
