Palestinian children face starvation, abuse and death inside Israel's Megiddo Prison

Palestinian minors are facing malnutrition, abuse and death inside Israel's Megiddo Prison, according to disturbing testimonies and medical findings reported by Haaretz on Thursday.

Children as young as 16 have emerged from detention emaciated, with one boy described by prison officials as "difficult to look at" due to his extreme weight loss.

They have been jailed by Israel for minor offences such as throwing stones, even when no damage occurred.

Children are being deliberately underfed by Israeli authorities, often being served scraps. Some of the items given to them include of two tablespoons of rice, three small spoons of strained yoghurt known as labneh, and a spoonful of jam.

They are denied adequate medical care, leading to serious illness and, in some cases, death.

One 17-year-old detainee died in March. A paediatrician from Physicians for Human Rights described his condition as one of "life-threatening underweight".

Four other prisoners gave written testimony describing starvation and related health problems.

Hygiene is also a major issue. Scabies is widespread, along with other untreated skin infections. One teen who died was found during autopsy to have no remaining body fat, inflammation in his colon, and a scabies infection.

The Israeli Prison Service has previously claimed that most detainees contracted scabies before their arrest. But prisoners told Haaretz the disease spreads rapidly inside Megiddo, due to filthy conditions and overcrowding.

"The itching began the first week," one said. "Then it hurt like death. One guy couldn’t even hold a tissue because the scabies on his hands hurt too much."

Torture is also widespread in Israeli prisons. A man from Qarawat Bani Hassan died in November 2023 with signs of blunt force trauma, broken ribs, and a shattered sternum. Another detainee from Nablus died in January with severe internal injuries.

Despite the seriousness of these cases, investigations are under a gag order and are not being handled by Israel’s National Prison Wardens Investigation Unit, meaning guards remain untouched by scrutiny.

"They made us kneel, hands on our heads," one prisoner told Haaretz. "Then they came in, sprayed gas in our faces and beat us. [...] Once, they hit me in the head and mouth with a gun and dislocated my jaw."

Amnesty International has repeatedly condemned Israel's treatment of Palestinian detainees, calling it degrading and unlawful. It says the transfer of protected persons outside occupied territory is a war crime under international law.