Addameer: ??The occupation cancels the visit of Addameer’s lawyer to Nafha prison under the pretext of the spread of infectious diseases inside the prison

Gaza - Ma'an - The Addameer Association for Human Rights - Gaza denounced the occupation's decision to cancel the visit of the Addameer Association's lawyer to Nafha prison in a manner that violates the principles of international humanitarian law and the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, which stipulate the protection of detainees, conducting continuous visits to them, and communicating with the outside world. The Addameer Association for Human Rights has been following the issue of detainees and missing persons since the beginning of the aggression on the Gaza Strip. On 8/11/2024, the association's lawyer submitted a request to visit Nafha prison, and the date was set for 9/15/2024 to visit the prison. However, on 9/8/2024, the lawyer was informed that the visit was cancelled due to the quarantine of detainees infected with the spread of contagious skin diseases, scabies, among detainees. According to the information and testimonies obtained by the Addameer Association, the spread and outbreak of diseases in most Israeli prisons has become due to the lack of cleaning materials, the lack of regular showers, and the failure to bring in clothes, especially underwear. Physicians for Human Rights explained that the spread of diseases in prisons does not prevent them from being visited and reassured, and that preventing lawyers from human rights organizations from visiting Nafha prison under the pretext of the spread of infectious diseases leads to tragic conditions inside the prison and the use of all forms of torture and inhuman and cruel treatment. The Addameer Association for Human Rights stressed that the detainee has the right to contact the outside world and the right to be visited by lawyers. Accordingly, Addameer calls on the international community and the high-level parties to the Four Geneva Conventions to pressure the occupation to oblige it to abide by the principles of international law and protect detainees. It also calls on the Committee Against Torture to take all necessary measures to protect de tainees inside the occupation prisons. It also calls on the Special Rapporteur on the right to health to intervene immediately and urgently and to follow up on the conditions of detainees inside Nafha prison in order to preserve their lives. Source: Maan News Agency