In the northern West Bank, the family of Sayyaf Salmi has turned their home into a makeshift health clinic to care for their son, who was released from Israeli occupation prisons in a severely deteriorated condition. Sayyaf, aged 22, suffers from a debilitating skin disease known as “Scapius,” a severe form of scabies that has left him with significant weight loss and psychological trauma. His father, Qasim, has been working tirelessly to seek medical help, but treatment options remain limited. The family is devastated by the sight of their son’s suffering, as they navigate the complexities of his recovery while dealing with the emotional toll of his imprisonment.
Another released prisoner, Nour Halawa, aged 47, continues to battle health issues stemming from his time in prison, including low blood levels and severe weight loss. Halawa, who spent 240 days in Megiddo prison, has witnessed the widespread neglect of prisoners' health, with rampant skin diseases and poor living conditions exacerbating their suffering. Reports indicate that prisoners are subjected to overcrowding, inadequate hygiene, and a lack of medical care, leading to dire health consequences for many upon their release.
The plight of these prisoners highlights a broader issue of medical neglect within Israeli prisons, as organizations dedicated to prisoner welfare report alarming trends of illness and suffering. Amani Sarhana from the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club emphasizes the catastrophic conditions faced by prisoners, noting that many are released with serious health complications that require urgent attention. The situation is particularly dire for those in Gaza, where reports of surgeries conducted without anesthesia have emerged, raising serious concerns about the treatment of prisoners under Israeli custody.
