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Escalating repression, starvation and illness in Ofer Prison: testimonies document the continued reality of “systematic destruction” inside prisons

New weapons increasingly used in crackdowns, including one that causes burns to the body

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club has issued a special briefing outlining the most significant findings documented by legal teams during visits to dozens of prisoners held in Ofer Prison in January and February 2026, once again detailing the conditions prisoners have endured since the onset of what it described as a “systematic campaign of destruction” inside Israeli prisons.

According to the testimonies, there has been a continued escalation in systematic repression, alongside ongoing starvation, deprivation of medical care, and acts of humiliation and abuse carried out on a daily basis. Prisoners also reported severe overcrowding and the widespread spread of skin diseases, particularly scabies, which has become one of the most prominent tools of physical and psychological suffering, exacerbated by the persistence of the conditions that facilitate its spread.

In light of the testimonies obtained, the Prisoners’ Club said the prison system has become one of the primary institutions enforcing this reality inside detention facilities, effectively turning prisons into a central arena for the physical and psychological destruction of detainees. Thousands of prisoners, it added, are currently suffering from varying degrees of physical and psychological health problems as a result of what they described as ongoing, moment-to-moment abuse.

Escalation of crackdowns and continued spread of scabies and illness in Ofer Prison

All prisoners visited in Ofer Prison confirmed that repression raids have become a daily occurrence, particularly during prisoner counts and security inspections, which they described as routine episodes of abuse and intimidation. Testimonies also pointed to a widespread outbreak of scabies among prisoners, coupled with denial of treatment and ongoing food deprivation.

One raid, according to testimonies, was triggered after a guard reportedly found a nail inside a cell, while another occurred after prisoners were seen covering their heads with towels due to the cold. Prisoners further reported the increasing use of new weapons during raids, including devices that cause burns when used against detainees.

Prisoner (R.Y.) said: “Raids and assaults happen continuously, especially during the ‘count’ and security inspections. The raids are accompanied by police dogs and the use of weapons, including stun grenades and rubber bullets, in addition to severe beatings. Most raids result in injuries ranging from bruises and fractures to wounds caused by rubber bullets.”

Another prisoner (A.R.) described conditions as “extremely harsh in all aspects,” noting that food is very limited, medical treatment is nonexistent, clothing is scarce, and assaults are ongoing. He added that he has suffered from scabies for five months without receiving treatment, stressing that many sections are experiencing widespread infections due to overcrowding, frequent transfers, and the absence of hygiene and proper ventilation.

In testimony dated 15 January 2026, prisoner (Y.Q.) said that Section 16 was subjected to a large-scale raid during which one room was sprayed with gas and a prisoner was severely beaten, leaving him unable to move for two weeks. Another prisoner (A.N.) reported a raid on 14 December 2025 during which he was severely beaten, resulting in a shoulder fracture, and said he received no medical treatment.

Prisoner (L.K.) stated that “there is not a single day without raids, assaults, or searches,” adding that more than four raids take place weekly. Each incursion, he said, involves the entry of police dogs and the use of grenades. He recounted that in late January, a cell was raided after a guard claimed to have found a nail, with the operation lasting about ten minutes. Following the raid, mattresses were confiscated, and during another incursion he sustained injuries when his hand struck the metal muzzle of a dog as he attempted to shield himself from blows.

Prisoner (A.A.) reported that repression units have recently begun using a new type of weapon, alongside stun grenades, gas, and rubber bullets, which causes skin burns when deployed against prisoners. He said the weapon had been used by the “Keter” unit.

In another testimony, prisoner (F.W.) said that on 6 October 2025 his section was subjected to a raid during which he was struck by a rubber bullet in the thigh. Due to the denial of treatment, he said he was unable to stand for two months, yet guards continued to force him to kneel during security inspections. He added that he is among those suffering from scabies for several months.

Prisoner (A.Y.) described the raid procedures, stating that repression forces compel prisoners to remain kneeling throughout searches, which can last more than 45 minutes, before forcing them to lie face-down on the floor for extended periods, during which dogs are brought into the cells to intimidate detainees.

Other prisoners reported a raid after guards saw detainees covering their heads with towels because of the cold, with the operation lasting about half an hour and leaving several prisoners with bruises. Testimonies again stressed the widespread prevalence of scabies and the complete denial of medical treatment.

Rising illness due to denial of treatment and lack of basic health conditions inside cells

In Ofer Prison, as in other prisons, there has been a documented increase in the number of sick prisoners due to harsh detention conditions, the absence of basic health standards inside cells, and ongoing hunger, which has weakened prisoners’ immune systems and led to multiple illnesses.

Prisoner (M.Y.) reported that he had suffered a back fracture before his arrest due to a previous accident, and that during his arrest he was severely beaten, resulting in a broken nose for which he received no treatment. He also complained of chronic pain preventing him from sleeping and significant weight loss due to hunger, saying he had lost approximately 26 kilograms.

Prisoner (B.J.) was described as facing what the briefing termed “systematic medical neglect,” leading to a deterioration in his health after being cut off from treatment. He reportedly suffers from blood clots in the arteries of the liver, small intestine and stomach, diabetes, and platelet disorders, and requires intensive medical follow-up. According to his testimony, he was beaten upon arrival at the prison, which caused him to lose his dental implants, and he has not received any treatment since.

Another prisoner (D.N.), who was wounded during his arrest in 2024, said he was shot in the right hand, abdomen, and pelvis and left bleeding on the ground while an ambulance was initially prevented from reaching him. He remained in hospital for 18 days and was later transferred to Ramla for six months. He now reports being denied necessary medical care, suffering difficulty walking, severe pelvic pain, and complications related to urination due to total bladder damage requiring the use of catheters. According to his testimony, doctors informed him that no treatment is currently available.

Prisoner (A.A.) also reported losing hearing in his left ear after being subjected to what he described as a collective assault involving severe beatings.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club renewed its call for urgent international intervention to halt what it described as ongoing grave violations inside prisons, and to enable international organisations, foremost the International Committee of the Red Cross, to visit prisoners, monitor their detention conditions, and allow family visits. It also urged the imposition of clear sanctions and an end to impunity, which it said has enabled the continuation of violations against prisoners in full view of the international community.