Shocking Testimonies About the Conditions of Prisoners The Independent Commission Visits Ofer

On Thursday, January 4, 2024, a lawyer from the Independent Commission for Human Rights visited several prisoners in Ofer military prison and listened to their testimonies about the difficult conditions they endure. The prisoners described their experience as unprecedented in the history of the prisoner movement, comparing their treatment to the notorious conditions in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons.

Hostages, Not Prisoners: Several prisoners stated that they should be considered hostages rather than political detainees or prisoners of war, as their arrest occurred after October 7 without any charges and they were subjected to administrative detention without any file. The only reason for their arrest, they believe, is their use in potential exchange deals. They demand to be referred to as hostages, not prisoners.

Starvation Policy: The prison administration is implementing a policy of starving the prisoners. The quantities of food provided are insufficient in both amount and quality, and there are cases of diarrhea and food poisoning due to some spoiled foods, including expired or nearly expired items. The quantity of food is not enough for the prisoners' needs, with a complete ban on meat, sugar, and salt. Most prisoners go to bed hungry.

Feeling Cold: A large number of prisoners suffer from cold due to a lack of blankets and the confiscation of their clothing. Additionally, most rooms exceed their capacity, meaning the excess number of prisoners have to sleep on the floor with a shortage of blankets and covers.

Continuous Mistreatment: Prison forces frequently raid prisoners' rooms and use police dogs in most of these raids. In some instances, rooms are bombarded with gas and sound grenades, and prisoners are dragged out of their rooms and beaten in the yards while handcuffed. Prisoners also face constant insults and humiliation from guards, especially during transfers for interrogation.

Lack of Healthcare: Prisoners complained about weak or nonexistent healthcare. Necessary medications are provided only in exceptional cases, often after delays or in incomplete dosages. There is a severe shortage of medicines, and only basic pain relief is available. Some prisoners require special healthcare which is completely ignored. The dental clinic has been completely closed since October 7.

Cut Off from the Outside World: Since October 7, the prison administration has withdrawn all means of communication, including TVs and radios, and has stopped the entry of newspapers and removed all books from the rooms. There have been no visits from the Red Cross, and family visits have been completely halted. Prisoners are not allowed to communicate between sections or even between rooms in the same section, and their time outside is limited to a few minutes designated for showering. Often, prisoners are denied access to the yard and showers for days or weeks.

Lack of Personal Hygiene Supplies: There is a shortage of personal hygiene and room cleaning supplies, such as shampoo and cleaning agents. Since October 7, most prisoners have been unable to shave their heads or beards due to a ban on shaving supplies.

Repeated Collective Punishments: Prisoners are subject to repeated collective punishments for minor reasons, such as raising their voice or taking a few extra minutes in the shower. This results in either denial of yard time and showering for everyone in the room for several days or raids on the room with physical assaults using police dogs. Additionally, many prisoners are unaware of their legal status or the duration of their detention due to restrictions on lawyer visits, and all their previous canteen credits have been confiscated.

Detainees from Gaza: The prisoners mentioned the presence of several detainees from the Gaza Strip in section 23, unable to communicate with them but constantly hearing the sounds of continuous torture and beatings they suffer almost daily.

The prisoners demand to keep their case alive and to increase pressure for their release. Meanwhile, they call for an improvement in their detention conditions to align with the minimum standards of human dignity and for visits from the Red Cross. It is noted that since October 7, seven prisoners have died, in addition to an unknown number of prisoners from Gaza in Israeli prisons. The Independent Commission for Human Rights holds the Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible for the lives and safety of Palestinian prisoners and urges the International Committee of the Red Cross to break its silence on the crimes committed against them and on the Israeli authorities' prevention of Red Cross visits to Palestinian prisoners.