487 Jerusalemite prisoners, 66 children, 36 administrative detainees, and dozens of sick people... Figures reveal the suffering of prisoners in Israeli jails on Prisoners' Day
On Palestinian Prisoners' Day, hundreds of Jerusalemite prisoners remain in Israeli prisons, facing harsh detention conditions and arbitrary measures.
Amjad Abu Asab, head of the Jerusalemite Prisoners' Families Committee, reported that the number of prisoners in Israeli jails stands at 487 "blue ID holders," including 66 boys "under the age of 18," in addition to Jerusalemite prisoner Tasneem Odeh.
Prisoners have been suffering from multiple, escalating violations in recent months, most notably medical neglect, solitary confinement, starvation, denial of family visits, and ongoing repression inside prisons, including direct beatings and pepper spray. Prisoners are also denied winter and summer clothing, heating and cooling supplies, and are prohibited from performing group prayers and reciting the Quran aloud.
Amjad Abu Asab stated that nine Jerusalemite prisoners with "blue ID cards" are serving life sentences: Ayman Sider (the oldest), Ahmed Saadeh, Nasri Asi, Firas Ghanem, Hussam Matar, Diaa Matar, Akram al-Qawasmi, Raed Abu Hamdieh, and Suheil Shqeirat.
Abu Asab added that the oldest prisoner is Issam Amireh, 74 years old. He noted that three mosque preachers are still in prison: Issam Amireh, Jamal Mustafa (70 years old), and Naim Odeh (60 years old), "on charges of incitement."
He explained that four child prisoners are being held in internal institutions instead of prisons.
Abu Asab also added that the longest sentences for Jerusalemite children are: Mohammad Zalbani, sentenced to 18 years in prison; Mohammad Abu Qteish, sentenced to 15 years; and Jafar Mtour, sentenced to 12 years.
He reported that there are 36 Jerusalemite prisoners under administrative detention, 21 Jerusalemite prisoners serving sentences of 14 years and above, 13 prisoners serving sentences of 10 years and above, and 30 Jerusalemite prisoners serving sentences of 5 years and above.
Abu Asab explained that many of the Jerusalemite prisoners suffer from chronic diseases and are in need of immediate treatment. There are also prisoners who were shot during their detention and require surgery and medical follow-up. The most prominent of these cases is prisoner Murad Barakat (30 years old), who has been detained since 2022 and who needs urgent surgery (his intestines are outside his abdomen).
The prisoners suffer from serious health problems, most notably: spinal problems, dental problems, brain cell and memory problems, skin problems, digestive problems, eye problems, and diabetes.
Among the sick cases in prison is prisoner Ayman al-Kurd, who was shot and left partially paralyzed.
Abu Asab noted that some of the sick prisoners are children.
Abu Asab added that 60 Jerusalemites, "young men and boys," are subject to "full or partial" house arrest.
He also noted that there are six prisoners from the Jerusalem Governorate who hold West Bank ID cards and are serving life sentences. The longest-serving is prisoner Samir Abu Ni’meh, who has been in prison for nearly 40 years.
The first phase of the exchange deal saw the release of 76 Jerusalemite prisoners holding "blue ID cards," including 27 prisoners who were deported outside the Palestinian territories, two to the Gaza Strip, eight women, and 46 prisoners serving life sentences or long prison terms.
