Deteriorating health conditions and difficult living conditions for prisoners in Gilboa Prison

August 26, 2026

The Commission of Detainees Affairs and Ex-Detainees Affairs revealed, in a report issued today, Wednesday, the deteriorating health and living conditions of a number of prisoners in Gilboa Prison, amid reports by prisoners of medical neglect, shortages of food, and a lack of personal hygiene supplies.

The Commission reported that prisoner Munir Ahmad Youssef Salameh, from Jenin Camp, who has been detained since November 9, 2023, is suffering from several health problems, including pain in his feet, teeth, and eyes, as well as symptoms associated with scabies, amid deliberate medical neglect, according to information conveyed by the Commission’s lawyer during his most recent visit.

According to the prisoner’s testimony, the occupation forces assaulted him and beat him at the moment of his arrest, causing one of his teeth to break. However, he did not receive the necessary medical treatment for his injury, according to his account to the Commission.

In another case, 25-year-old prisoner Abdullah Suhrab Saif, from Tulkarm, is suffering from inflammations and boils in various parts of his body, particularly on his foot. He said that he received treatment without any significant improvement. He also suffers from stomach problems and has lost approximately 40 kilograms during his detention.

Saif was arrested on May 28, 2024. According to his testimony, he spent approximately 18 months in solitary confinement at Megiddo Prison before being transferred to Gilboa Prison in February of this year.

According to prisoners’ testimonies, their suffering in Gilboa is not limited to health conditions. They also described difficult living conditions inside the prison, including shortages of food in terms of both quantity and quality. Prisoners are taken to the prison yard twice a day, for half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening.

The prisoners also reported shortages of personal hygiene supplies, including nail clippers, while they are only permitted to shave after submitting a request. They further reported insufficient quantities of cleaning and personal hygiene products.

The testimonies added that prisoners have only one set of clothing, further exacerbating their difficult living conditions inside the prison, amid limited access to the basic necessities they require on a daily basis.

The difficult health and living conditions endured by prisoners in Gilboa Prison are becoming increasingly severe due to the deliberate and systematic medical neglect inflicted upon our prisoners.