Post

More from @DropSiteNews

Drop Site

@DropSiteNews

Aug 6

REPORT: Scabies outbreak in Israeli prisons exposes systemic neglect and abuse

Israeli prisons are in the midst of a scabies epidemic — a skin infection caused by mites that spread in unsanitary, overcrowded conditions. Haaretz reported in November 2024 that a quarter of all Palestinian detainees had been infected in recent months. The worst outbreaks were in Megiddo, Negev, Nafha, and Rimon prisons.

A January 2025 breakdown shared by the Palestinian Center for Prisoners Advocacy cited:
▪️ 3,000 cases in Negev
▪️ 1,000 in Megiddo
▪️ 700 in Rimon
▪️ 500 in Nafha

That’s 5,200 cases — nearly half the estimated total prison population.

Scabies is also affecting foreigners detained for just a few days. U.S. labor organizer Chris Smalls and Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, both abducted during the Freedom Flotilla mission, say they contracted scabies within 72 hours of Israeli detention. “The prison conditions were horrible,” Smalls told Democracy Now! on August 5. “I contracted scabies.”

Meanwhile, Muhammad Ibrahim, a 16-year-old American citizen, has been detained without trial for 5 months in Megiddo, where he too developed scabies. His family says he’s lost 26 pounds and has received no meaningful consular protection.

Palestinian prisoners describe squalid, inescapable suffering. “We stopped dreaming of leaving,” one said. “We started dreaming of getting treated.”

🎥 Watch Chris Smalls’ testimony in the clip below with @kthalps. Thiago Ávila’s video showing his scabies infection is also included below.

📸 Additional photos and testimony from Palestinian detainees in the thread.

Prisoners describe constant itching, festering rashes, denial of medical treatment, and isolation. As one survivor put it: “We stopped dreaming of leaving… we started dreaming of getting treated.”

Other victims report being classified into “zombie” sections in Negev and Rimon prisons.

https://twitter.com/qadeyah_/status/1845930739445256350

Photos of prisoners released from Megiddo prison/torture camp

https://twitter.com/qadeyah_/status/1845930739445256350

Read 5 tweets

Drop Site

@DropSiteNews

Aug 5

🚨 Drop Site has obtained the full letter sent by Hamas to the UN Security Council ahead of Tuesday’s meeting on the starvation crisis in Gaza. We’re publishing it in full below.

📎 For full context, read Jeremy Scahill and Jawa Ahmad’s accompanying report for Drop Site News — linked at the bottom of the thread.
—

📌 Letter regarding the United Nations Security Council session convened to discuss the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip (05 August 2025)

The United Nations Security Council will convene tomorrow, Tuesday, 05 August 2025, to deliberate the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, at a time when the United States and Israel are directing the focus toward the issue of the Israeli occupation soldiers held captive there—soldiers who were captured from within their tanks and military barracks that have besieged Gaza for seventeen years, in a legitimate act of resistance under international law, and who are now enduring the same tragic conditions suffered by the residents of the Gaza Strip that are imposed by the occupation authorities.

The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, resulting from the ongoing crime of genocide perpetrated by the occupation regime, necessitates urgent international action and the mobilization of all capabilities to bring an end to this humanitarian catastrophe, which has so far resulted in 60,839 martyrs and 149,588 injured, including 1,487 martyrs and more than 10,578 wounded among those waiting for aid at the gates of the American-Israeli (GHF) organization and at gathering points for humanitarian assistance—due to the starvation policy deliberately used by the occupation regime as a weapon of war against our people.

This session is convened while Gaza suffers from a deliberate starvation policy imposed by the occupation regime since 2 March 2025, marked by the complete tightening of the siege and the prevention of entry of essential and life-saving supplies, as more than 22,000 aid trucks—most of them belonging to international and UN organizations—remain at the crossing gates, deliberately blocked by the occupation authorities under a systematic policy of “engineering starvation, siege, and chaos” as part of the ongoing crime of genocide.

As a result of this catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip, the percentage of Palestinian families facing food insecurity has reached 96%, while 90% of the population lacks access to potable water (according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA). Furthermore, hospitals are experiencing widespread destruction, a severe shortage of medicine and medical consumables, and depletion of healthcare personnel. Amid this catastrophic health situation, and due to a severe shortage of infant formula, medication, and health supplies necessary to address cases of hunger, the total number of deaths from famine and malnutrition has reached 175 martyrs, including 93 children.

Your Excellency,

As you convene to discuss the matter of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza—raised by the occupation regime—we wish to draw your esteemed attention to the appalling conditions endured by the Palestinian detainees in the ‘Israeli’ prisons and military detention centers, whose officially declared number stands at approximately 10,800 detainees, including 3,629 held under “administrative detention” without charge, and more than 450 children. This is in addition to detainees held in military camps operated by the occupation army, estimated to number in the thousands (according to reports, more than 4,400), who are subjected to extremely harsh conditions, including torture, starvation, deprivation of their most basic rights, and whose fate remains unknown.

Under these inhumane conditions endured by the Palestinian detainees in the occupation regime’s prisons and detention facilities—supervised directly by the far-right minister accused of terrorist activity, Itamar Ben Gvir—76 Palestinian prisoners have lost their lives due to torture, starvation, and medical neglect since the beginning of the genocidal war on Gaza, including 46 martyrs from the Gaza Strip. As for detainees held in military detention centers, particularly in the notorious “Sde Teiman” facility, the occupation authorities have denied all international organizations access to them, despite leaked accounts by enemy soldiers indicating that these detainees are subjected to torture, sexual assault, starvation, and degrading treatment that violates their human dignity.

For the Israeli prisoners held by the resistance in Gaza, they are experiencing the same conditions as the people of Gaza; they eat the same food as their captors. The famine—caused by the occupation regime—affects all areas of the Strip, and inevitably its effects are reflected upon the ‘Israeli’ captives, just as they are reflected upon their captors, their families, and the overwhelming majority of Gaza’s population.

In light of past prisoner exchange deals and testimonies from released detainees and their families, it is evident that Israeli prisoners returned in good health and psychological condition, having received the highest levels of care and attention—rooted in our values and the principles of our noble religion. In contrast, our prisoners released from the occupation’s prisons have returned in deteriorated health, having lost significant weight, as visibly evident in their appearance, and as they themselves attested to the harsh treatment and poor food provided to them.

Hence, we hereby reiterate the statement of the spokesperson of the Al-Qassam Brigades, confirming the willingness to “cooperate positively and respond to any request from the Red Cross to deliver food and medicine to the prisoners of the enemy” in the Gaza Strip, provided that “the acceptance of such a request be conditional upon the opening of humanitarian corridors in a normal and continuous manner to allow the passage of food and medicine to all our people.” We reaffirm his emphasis that “the Al-Qassam Brigades do not deliberately starve the prisoners; they eat from the same provisions as our fighters and the rest of our people. They will not receive any special privileges amid this crime of starvation and blockade.” This is in full accordance with international humanitarian law, particularly Article 23 of the Draft Articles on Responsibility of States, which states that if the blockade and denial of basic necessities by the occupying power constitute a force majeure that prevents the provision of essential needs, the detaining party shall not be held responsible for the resulting shortcomings, unless it preserves the dignity and legal status of the prisoners.

Accordingly, we call upon Your Excellency, from your distinguished position within the Security Council, to exert pressure on the occupation regime to reach a comprehensive solution to the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, in accordance with international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which assigns full responsibility to the occupying power—in this case, Israel—for providing all necessary means of survival to the civilian population under occupation, including those who may be held as prisoners by other parties. This includes the provision of food, medicine, water, and all necessities for a dignified life, as stipulated in Articles 55 and 56 of the aforementioned Convention. Furthermore, we demand an end to the policy of collective starvation, which constitutes a war crime under Article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Security Council Resolution 2417 (2018), the principles of international humanitarian law, and Rule 53 of the ICRC’s customary international humanitarian law.

We also call upon the Security Council and the international community, through Your Excellency, to address the inhumane conditions faced by our detainees in the occupation’s prisons and detention facilities and to put an end to the violations of international law and human rights perpetrated by the occupation authorities against them.

Kindly accept the assurances of our highest respect and appreciation.

Read 4 tweets

Drop Site

@DropSiteNews

Aug 4

🧵THREAD: We are sharing the full English translation of Al Jazeera Mubasher’s interview with Husam Badran, head of Hamas’ National Relations Office and member of the Political Bureau:

⸻

Host:
Joining us online is Mr. Husam Badran, Head of the National Relations Office and member of the Hamas Political Bureau. Welcome, Mr. Husam. I’d like to begin with the latest from the occupation: a declaration of full occupation of Gaza, and threats of assassinations targeting Hamas leaders inside and outside the Strip. How do you respond?

Husam Badran:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful—

First of all, threats to assassinate Hamas leadership, whether inside Gaza or abroad, are nothing new. The occupation has repeatedly made such threats, and in fact, has carried them out since the beginning of this war, assassinating many political and military leaders of the movement. At the top of that list: our leader Abu al-Abed, his deputy Sheikh Saleh, and also Yahya Sinwar, the movement’s leader who succeeded Abu al-Abed.

We’ve always said that our blood as leaders of the resistance—and as Palestinian leaders—is not more valuable than the blood of our people, our children, or our women. These threats hold no value to us and do not affect our political decisions, our positions on the battlefield, or our negotiating stance. But they do indicate that we are dealing with a state—or rather, a quasi-state—run by gangs of terrorists and criminals who disregard international laws and conventions. We’ve seen this in more than one arena during this war in particular.

These threats neither frighten nor deter us, and they will not change our positions. As for the continued or expanded war in Gaza—this is already being executed. The occupation never relents from its crimes. It is our duty as Hamas and as a resistance movement to defend our people using all the capabilities and resources we possess. We are fighting and resisting for the sake of our people and their interests. At the same time, we are also engaged in negotiations and diplomatic activity for the same goal: to stop this war and this barbaric aggression against our people in Gaza.

Host:
So, can we say the negotiations are over now, given the occupation’s statements about reoccupying Gaza and eliminating Hamas?

Husam Badran:
Let me remind everyone: the last round of negotiations, which lasted about 18 days, ended with the occupation walking away—not us—even after we had reached reasonable and suitable understandings and formulations. The mediators, especially our brothers in Qatar and Egypt, were fully informed and closely following developments. They were very satisfied with our response, which had been coordinated and consulted upon with many other Palestinian factions. So it wasn’t just a Hamas position—it was a Palestinian one.

Even the Americans were following the Doha talks in detail. What derailed that round was first the surprise announcement from [U.S. envoy] Witkoff, which caught everyone off guard, followed by Netanyahu’s withdrawal of the Israeli delegation from Doha.

Currently, there are no Israeli or Palestinian delegations in Doha or Cairo, but our communications with the mediators are ongoing. We are the party most eager to reach an agreement that ends this war and this aggression against our people. The ball is now entirely in the court of the occupation—and the Americans, who support Israel’s obstruction of any agreement.

Host:
What are these communications about, then? Witkoff left Gaza speaking of a “comprehensive deal,” while Israel says there’s no such deal and no delegations. So what exactly are these communications? Is there any talk of resuming negotiations on a new basis?

Husam Badran:
First, what Witkoff says in the media has not reached us through any official mediator. So it seems he’s negotiating with himself—or perhaps with the occupation. Our communications with the mediators continue without interruption, but there are no new ideas or proposals. What we reached in the recent Doha talks was logical, reasonable, and acceptable to all parties involved.

The main culprits responsible for the breakdown were two people: Witkoff and Netanyahu. Witkoff surprised everyone with his statements just as we were nearing agreement and signing. Netanyahu followed suit, announcing a completely different track that contradicted the positive atmosphere in Doha at the time.

Host:
On the issue of resistance weapons—Hamas insists on its right to retain arms as a resistance movement, in accordance with international law. But there’s increasing pressure from Europe, the West, and Arab states demanding Hamas disarm and accept a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. What’s your position?

Husam Badran:
First, it’s misleading to suggest that only Hamas holds weapons. All resistance factions have arms and use them to defend our people, especially in Gaza. These weapons belong to the resistance factions and to the Palestinian people as a whole. They exist to defend our people and ourselves.

We live under occupation. We are a people being attacked openly and constantly. So we’ve always said this is first and foremost a Palestinian internal matter. The question of arms is a national Palestinian issue. It rests on two principles: our right as Palestinians to resist, and the fact that this right is fully aligned with international law, which allows any people under occupation to resist by all available means, including armed resistance.

Trying to tie the establishment of a Palestinian state to the issue of weapons is deception. Give us a sovereign Palestinian state, and all resistance weapons will become part of the official defense structure of that state. The fighters will become part of the Palestinian army. The world should not put the cart before the horse. Give us the state first, and you’ll see all fighters, armed and unarmed, integrated into the fabric of that state—including its army, which would be under the authority of the elected Palestinian government.

So again: the issue of weapons is tied to the end of the occupation and the creation of a real state—not just the symbolic recognition of a state that doesn’t exist on the ground.

Read 8 tweets

Drop Site

@DropSiteNews

Aug 3

🟪 In an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher, senior Hamas official and member of the negotiating team, Dr. Ghazi Hamad accused the U.S. of echoing Israeli talking points and using ceasefire talks to prolong war and starvation in Gaza. He rejected any disarmament outside the context of a full Israeli withdrawal and the creation of a Palestinian state, calling resistance a legal and moral right. Hamad also defended the October 7 attack as a historic turning point that revealed Israel’s true face and revived global attention to the Palestinian cause.

Full translated transcript below. 👇🏼

[Start of interview]

Host:
We welcome our guest in the studio, Dr. Ghazi Hamad, senior Hamas official and member of the negotiation team.
Dr. Ghazi, welcome.

The U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, currently visiting the occupied territories and Gaza, is speaking of a “comprehensive deal” and of disarmament. Let’s begin with this so-called comprehensive deal. You were calling for one from the beginning. What has changed?

Ghazi Hamad:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
First, let me say that the American administration, politically and in negotiations, often speaks with an Israeli tongue. It echoes the Israeli position—on negotiations, disarmament, and many other issues.

This includes famine. Witkoff is parroting the Israeli line—even though every international body, from the UN to UNICEF to the World Food Programme and even Western governments, has confirmed there is a real famine in Gaza. Yet Witkoff, protected and escorted by the Israeli army, comes here and denies this truth. He’s lying to the world.

This alone proves the U.S. position is fully captive to Israel’s agenda. It’s not just about disarmament—Israel wants to strip Palestinians of their identity, their rights, and any sense of national existence. This isn’t just about weapons.

All Palestinian factions—Fatah, Islamic Jihad, the Popular and Democratic Fronts—have always used arms to fight for our legitimate rights.

Host:
Let’s come back to the issue of weapons later. For now, let’s focus on this “comprehensive deal” Witkoff is promoting. What’s changed?

Hamad:
Our position has always been clear: there should be a comprehensive deal that addresses all aspects of the Gaza situation.

But Israel blocked that path completely, rejected it outright. Even though we offered to hand over all captives—alive or dead—in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal. Israel refused.

They wanted to reach a partial stage, then restart the war.

We eventually accepted a partial or “bridge” deal, as a step toward the comprehensive one. But even then, Israel dragged its feet, lied, and obstructed.

Since negotiations began in February 2024 until now, Israel has used the talks as cover to continue war, famine, and massacres.

We hope there’s serious international pressure to push for a full, comprehensive agreement. Because partial deals only lead back to war.

Host:
Witkoff seems to be framing this as appeasement for the families of Israeli captives. But what is being offered to you now, and what are they demanding?

Hamad:
The talks have gone through many phases. In the most recent period, we were presented with a proposal—Witkoff’s proposal. We amended it. It went through multiple rounds.

We reached a point where four issues remained unresolved:
1. Aid delivery
2. Map and redeployment issues
3. Continuation of talks after 60 days
4. “Keys” to the prisoner files

In our last meeting with the Egyptian and Qatari mediators—whose efforts we appreciate—they saw real progress. They returned from Israel with a positive outlook.

But the very next day, the Israeli delegation withdrew. Then the U.S. began attacking Hamas publicly without explanation. This tells us these four issues still need to be resolved, and they are essential to achieving a ceasefire and an end to the war.

[1/3] Continues Below ⬇️

.

Host:
Israel and the U.S.—via Witkoff—are now linking disarmament to ending the war. Western governments, including those considering recognition of a Palestinian state, are doing the same. Hamas insists resistance arms are a national right under international law. Is a ceasefire really dependent on disarmament?

Hamad:
Let me be clear: arms are synonymous with the Palestinian cause.
Every Palestinian grew up understanding this. All our factions have fought, died, and bled for our rights.

There is national consensus—disarmament would mean the end of the resistance and the cause.

Look at the Palestinian Authority: when it gave up armed resistance and recognized Israel, what did it achieve after 30 years? More settlements, more land theft, more humiliation.

Israel wants a weak Palestinian side that surrenders everything.
But we’ve said clearly: if the occupation ends and a Palestinian state is established, our arms will become part of the state’s military. But as long as there is occupation, armed resistance is our right.

If we disarmed today, Israel would keep killing us tomorrow.
It happened in Lebanon. It’s happening now.

The issue of weapons must be addressed only in the context of ending the occupation—not before.

We will not hand our weapons to a criminal, genocidal, apartheid settler state. No Palestinian with honor would.

Even now, Israel undermines the PA, demolishes homes, assassinates leaders. It doesn’t want peace or coexistence. It wants domination.

Our steadfastness in Gaza and the West Bank is our strength—our will, our arms, our resistance. Gaza has withstood the region’s strongest army for nearly two years. Yes, there’s destruction—but Israel hasn’t won.

Only Palestinians can decide the future of our weapons.

Host:
You say disarmament won’t happen until there is a full national homeland. France and Britain are offering recognition based on 1967 borders. Is that what you mean?

Hamad:
Unfortunately, even the New York conference showed the world still doesn’t understand: the problem isn’t Palestinians. It’s the occupation.

Israel is responsible for all issues—Jerusalem, refugees, settlements.
This is a violent, criminal occupation.

The world must stop asking Palestinians to disarm, and start demanding Israel end the occupation.

International law, the UN, and the ICJ all say Israel’s occupation and settlements are illegal.

We are not terrorists. We are fighting for our freedom.
Even October 7 was a response to 77 years of Israeli crimes—not the start of history.

For decades, the world ignored our pain. October 7 was the result.

Host:
Some say that despite all this, Israel now has a historic opportunity to liquidate the Palestinian cause. Gaza has been destroyed, its people starved. The West Bank is being emptied. Resistance in Lebanon has been attacked. Arab regimes continue supporting Israel. Did you hand Israel this opportunity?

Hamad:
Let me ask: before October 7, was the world even discussing Palestine?
Ask President Abbas—was anyone paying attention?

Even the Biden administration offered only “humanitarian support.” They told the PA to forget the two-state solution.

October 7 changed all that. Yes, we paid a price—but what option did we have? Surrender to Ben Gvir and his extremist settlers?

He was desecrating Al-Aqsa, talking daily about annexing the West Bank. Our options were: surrender or resist.

Thanks to resistance, we’ve seen major gains:
1. The world is recognizing Palestine again.
2. Israel’s image as a democracy is shattered.
3. The myth of Israeli invincibility is gone.

Today, people are marching against genocide in every Western capital. Netanyahu is wanted by the ICC. Israel stands accused of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

And after 22 days of war, Israel still hasn’t defeated Gaza, retrieved captives, or established control. Gaza has become a model of heroic resistance.

[2/3] Continues Below ⬇️

Read 5 tweets

Drop Site

@DropSiteNews

Jul 30

🟥 BREAKING | Israeli forces have launched a series of raids across the West Bank, storming Jenin, Nablus, Hebron, Qalqilya, and Ramallah at dawn Wednesday — resulting in multiple arrests and injuries. 🧵

🎥 Moment Israeli forces arrested Muhammad Mleitat, a boy from the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus.

🎥 Israeli occupation forces raided the Cinema Roundabout area in the center of Jenin City.

Two young men were injured after being run over by an Israeli occupation forces jeep on Schools Street in Qalqilya City.

Read 4 tweets

Drop Site

@DropSiteNews

Jul 28

🟢 NEW from @DropSiteNews

Hamas’s top political leader Khalil Al-Hayya delivered a blistering speech Sunday night, accusing the U.S. and Israel of working together to sabotage yet another potential ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

“We state clearly: There is no point in continuing negotiations under the siege, genocide, and starvation of our children, women, and people in the Gaza Strip,” Al-Hayya said.

“If food and medicine do not enter immediately, and in a dignified manner, for our people—then there is nothing serious or genuine about these negotiations.”

Al-Hayya, who also serves as the lead negotiator for the Palestinian delegation, condemned the collapse of negotiations as a deliberate maneuver to buy time for mass killings. He also denounced the farce of humanitarian airdrops, and issued a scathing call to Arab states and the broader Muslim world to break their silence—and the siege.

Drop Site’s @JeremyScahill and Jawa Ahmad cover Al-Hayya’s remarks in a new report, alongside exclusive internal documents detailing Hamas’s ceasefire proposals that preceded Trump and Netanyahu’s decision to withdraw their negotiators from the Doha talks.

In the thread below, we break down Al-Hayya’s full speech in four parts. Drop Site’s full story is linked in the reply. 🧵

🔗 FULL STORY

EXCLUSIVE: Internal Documents Detail Hamas Proposals That Preceded Trump’s Belligerent Rant

By @jeremyscahill and Jawa Ahmad

dropsitenews.com/p/negotiations…

Section 1 of 4

“You Are the Crown of Our Heads”

Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya began by speaking directly to the people of Gaza, honoring their steadfastness in the face of unparalleled hardship. His tone is reverent, nearly sacred, as he describes Gaza’s ordeal as something words cannot capture: “Words stand before you, silent—stripped of meaning. They are too small to express the scale of what you’ve endured.”

He praised the people as having borne “horrors that would break entire nations,” and yet standing firm “when everything else collapsed.” In contrast to a world that fell into “silence, betrayal, and disgrace,” Gaza stood tall—dignified in its suffering.

He calls their pain and sacrifice a trust—“Your suffering, your cries, your pain—these are a trust upon our shoulders, and we will never abandon that trust, for as long as we live.”

In one of the more emotionally charged sections, he proclaims:

“God is enough for you as you are killed. God is enough for you as you are driven from your homes. God is enough for you as you are starved.”

Yet the Palestinians don’t break, he said.

“You are the crowns upon our heads—the living symbols of pride, dignity, and resistance.”