Palestinian minors at Megiddo prison face harsh detention conditions, says commission
RAMALLAH: Palestinian minors held at Israel’s Megiddo prison are enduring harsh detention conditions that severely affect their lives, according to a report issued by the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs on Sunday.
The commission’s lawyer said detainee Mohammed Arafat Sawafta from Tubas governorate, who has been held since June 17 last year, was battling multiple health problems including joint inflammation, a stomach virus and an eye infection. Although he received treatment for the eye infection, his condition remains serious, forcing him to use a walker.
The report added that all detainees have suffered significant weight loss due to inadequate nutrition, with the food provided falling far short of meeting their basic needs.
Describing the detention conditions, the commission’s lawyer said detainees are transferred while handcuffed despite repeated objections, making it difficult for them to sign documents or even hold the telephone used to communicate during legal visits. This turns meetings with lawyers into an exhausting experience lacking minimum standards.
