The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs has reported a series of alarming medical cases among prisoners held in Israel’s Ofer and Megiddo facilities, warning that systemic neglect continues to endanger their lives.
In its statement issued Sunday following a lawyer’s visit, the Commission detailed several cases of detainees suffering from untreated or poorly treated health conditions, many of which stem from violent arrest procedures or inadequate medical follow-up inside prisons.
Severe Dental Injury After Arrest
The Commission highlighted the case of Nader al‑Sheikh, from Beit Surik near Ramallah, who is held under a four‑month administrative detention order without charge or trial.
Al‑Sheikh suffers from intense dental pain after being beaten during his arrest, which caused one of his upper dental crowns to fall out.
Despite repeated requests for treatment, prison authorities have allegedly ignored his condition. He remains held in Ofer Prison.
Untreated Leg Injury
Another detainee, Mohammad Khalaf, 19, from al‑Am’ari refugee camp near Ramallah, is also held under a six‑month administrative detention order.
He has been experiencing persistent pain in his left leg and requires medical care that has not been provided. He is likewise held in Ofer.
Post‑Surgery Complications Without Follow‑Up
In Megiddo Prison, 18‑year‑old Ahmad Abed from Tulkarm is suffering from dizziness, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and acute constipation.
His symptoms began after undergoing emergency gallbladder surgery at Afula Hospital. The Commission says he has not received the necessary post‑operative care since being returned to prison.
Commission: Neglect Is Systemic
The Commission held the Israeli Prison Service fully responsible for what it described as an “ongoing pattern of medical neglect” against Palestinian detainees.
It called on international human rights organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to intervene more decisively to ensure detainees receive adequate medical treatment.
Broader Context
Human rights groups have long criticized the Israeli prison system for inadequate medical services, slow responses to emergencies, and the widespread use of administrative detention, which currently affects thousands of Palestinians.
Several detainees in recent years have suffered long‑term disabilities or died amid allegations of delayed or denied medical care.
The Commission warned that without urgent international oversight, the health of vulnerable detainees will continue to deteriorate.
Lack of Transparency Obscures the Full Picture
Human rights organizations stress that obtaining precise and comprehensive figures on Palestinian detainees remains extremely difficult due to Israel’s persistent refusal to fully cooperate with legal monitoring bodies.
Both the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Palestinian legal committees have repeatedly reported that Israeli authorities withhold essential information, including the exact number of detainees, their places of detention, and their medical conditions.
This lack of transparency has intensified since October 2023, with many detainees—particularly those from Gaza—held in military camps or undisclosed facilities where access for lawyers, families, and independent observers is severely restricted.
As a result, rights groups warn that the real number of detainees, as well as the scale of medical neglect and abuse, may be significantly higher than the officially released figures.
Latest Detainee Statistics
According to updated figures released by Palestinian detainee advocacy groups and based on data published by the Israeli Prison Service up to December 2025, the total number of Palestinian political prisoners has reached about 9,300, excluding detainees held in Israeli military camps.
Rights groups note that this figure does not account for thousands of Palestinians—particularly from Gaza—who are being held in military facilities where no public records are maintained and where access for lawyers, families, and independent monitors remains severely restricted.
The organizations also report sharp increases in administrative detention, child detainees, and women prisoners, reflecting a continued escalation in Israel’s arrest and detention practices throughout 2025.
