Deteriorating health conditions and ongoing medical neglect in the Negev prison

July 26, 2026

The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs stated in its report issued today, Sunday, that its advocate visited a number of detainees held in the Negev Prison, documenting the continued deterioration of living and health conditions inside the prison. Detainees reported persistent medical neglect, poor-quality and insufficient food, a shortage of summer clothing, as well as ongoing physical and verbal abuse.

Detainee Hashem Mamoun Mahasneh (19), from Jenin Refugee Camp, who has been held under administrative detention since 28/04/2025, is suffering from severe dental pain requiring urgent treatment. He is also suffering from a fungal skin infection that remains widespread across his body despite receiving topical medication, making further treatment necessary. Mahasneh also described the harsh detention conditions, including inadequate and poor-quality food, repeated beatings and verbal abuse without justification, and a severe shortage of summer clothing.

The Commission also reported that detainee Imad Moayyad Fawzi Habash (37), from Nablus, who has been held under administrative detention since 28/07/2025, suffers from high blood pressure and is receiving the necessary medication from the prison clinic. He also experiences hearing loss and persistent tinnitus in his left ear as a result of injuries sustained during a prison raid in Megiddo Prison in late 2025, when sound grenades were used against detainees.

Detainee Mu'taz Hisham Mohammad Yaqub (28), from the city of Tulkarm, who has been held under administrative detention since 17/07/2025, stated that he requires antibiotics and painkillers due to recurring infections resulting from three fistula surgeries he underwent prior to his arrest. However, the prison administration has failed to provide him with the necessary treatment. He also stressed his urgent need for his prescription glasses, which he did not have with him at the time of his arrest. Yaqub further confirmed the continued medical neglect, poor-quality food, assaults against detainees, and the shortage of summer clothing. He added that he has lost approximately 40 kilograms since his detention.

Meanwhile, detainee Mohammad Raja Ahmad Al-Khatib (28), from the town of Beitunia, west of Ramallah, who has been held under administrative detention since 05/08/2024, stated that he contracted scabies at the beginning of the year. Although he received treatment twice, the disease recurred after the treatment ended. He also suffers from hearing loss in his right ear as a result of being beaten while detained in Ofer Prison.

The Commission's advocate also visited a number of other detainees:

. Rami Rashid Hilal (28), from Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate, has been held under administrative detention for 16 months and is scheduled to complete his detention on 05/11/2026.

. Adam Mohammad Jamal Abu Baker (20), from the city of Jenin, has been detained since 22/12/2024 and is currently serving his fourth six-month administrative detention renewal, due to end on 27/08/2026.

. Mustafa Mahmoud Al-Saadi (22), from Jenin, has been detained since 11/02/2025 and is serving his third administrative detention renewal, due to end on 08/08/2026.

. Ahmad Mohammad Sarari (23), from the city of Ramallah, has been detained since 08/07/2025 and is scheduled to be released on 05/01/2027.

. Abdul Rahman Basisi (23), from the city of Tulkarm, has been detained since 22/09/2024 and is serving his fourth six-month administrative detention renewal, due to end on 02/09/2026.