80 percent of Palestinian prisoners suffered scabies infection in Israeli jails: rights group

LONDON: About 80 percent of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been infected at some point with scabies, a parasitic skin infestation, due to a lack of proper hygiene supplies and overcrowding, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society.

The society’s legal team collected testimonies during visits to Israeli jails in October and early November and found continued spread of scabies due to inadequate healthcare provided by Israeli authorities, according to the Palestine News Agency.

The society said thousands of detainees suffer from a severe shortage of clothing, one of the main factors contributing to the spread of the skin disease.