The Prisoners' Affairs Authority reported today, Thursday, that the conditions in Ofer prison are still bad, according to a visit by its lawyer to a number of prisoners there, where they reported that the Ofer prison administration deliberately takes them out to the yard in the early hours of dawn in the bitter cold with the onset of winter.

The Commission’s lawyer stated in his report that he visited five prisoners in Ofer Prison and they gave their testimonies about the conditions in Ofer Prison. They are:

Administrative prisoner Mamoun Mahmoud Hamed, 18 years old, from Ramallah Governorate, detained in Ofer Prison, located in Section (14), Room (6), detained on 2/4/2024, and the last administrative detention order issued against him expires on 1/30/2025.

Prisoner Hamed suffered from health problems before his arrest, including sinusitis, dental problems, and stomach pain. He did not receive any treatment despite repeated requests to the prison administration, but to no avail.

Regarding the prison conditions, prisoner Hamed said that they are bad in all aspects. The quantities of food are small and of poor quality. Regarding the break, the prisoner said that it lasts between half an hour and an hour a day, and that the duration is determined according to the mood of the jailer.

Administrative prisoner Abdullah Nayef Daoud Salem, 25 years old from Bethlehem, is held in Ofer Prison in Section (18), Room (11). He suffers from several health problems before his arrest, including gastroesophageal reflux, stomach bacteria, weak heart muscle, congenital problems in his left hand, and an injury to his feet before his arrest. After his arrest, he was not provided with the necessary treatment, despite his request in the court session that was held regarding him for the necessity of providing treatment.

Regarding the conditions in the prison, the prisoner said that they are very difficult in general, and he referred to the ongoing policy of suppression of prisoners’ rooms and attacks on them. He stated in his testimony that several days ago, units affiliated with the Prison Service, accompanied by police dogs, suppressed a number of prisoners’ rooms, accompanied by insults, and the prisoners’ food and “pajamas” were confiscated, despite the shortage of regular and underwear clothing for nine months.

The prisoner said that there are a number of prisoners infected with "Scabies" in the section where he is located.

Prisoner Ahmad Shawqi Abu Arqoub from Hebron, 22 years old, is in Section (26), Room (15), and has been detained for 15 months.

He has been issued with three administrative detention orders and is awaiting an appeal hearing regarding the latest administrative detention order.

Prisoner Abu Arqoub suffers from a respiratory health problem before his arrest and needs a spray. His suffering has increased significantly after his arrest, as the prison administration refuses to provide him with a spray. In addition, he needs glasses, and the prison administration has not responded to his requests. He pointed out that they suffer from the cold weather in the room he is in.

Abu Arqoub stated that the prison administration deliberately takes them out to the refueling area at 5:30 in the morning, when it is bitterly cold, which makes a number of prisoners refuse to go out to it.