RAMALLAH, Palestine

A Palestinian official on Friday warned of an escalation in the number of coronavirus infections among Palestinians inmates in Israeli prisons. 

"About 100 detainees are currently infected with coronavirus," Qadri Abu Bakr, head of the Palestinian Detainees and ex-Detainees Affairs Commission, told Anadolu Agency.

He added: "Fears are increasing about the escalation of the number of the infected, as a result of the deliberate negligence of the Israeli prison administration."

He went on to say that the measures taken by all Israeli prisons are limited to providing lemon and painkillers to the infected and isolating them in special cells.

The Palestinian official urged the international community to take action to save the prisoners.

He said that the Palestinian leadership has sent messages to international institutions, consuls and ambassadors around the world, to intervene for the release of children, elderly and sick prisoners.

The total number of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons who were infected with coronavirus are about 130, including 30 who have recovered, according Palestinian figures.

Palestinian figures show that around 4,500 Palestinians, including 40 women, 170 children and 700 patients, are currently held in Israeli detention facilities.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat