The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) warns that a health crisis is looming at Israel’s Megiddo prison “due to extremely unsanitary conditions”, causing scabies and other skin diseases to spread, Al Jazeera reports.

The statement comes two days after Israeli authorities announced the death of 17-year-old detainee Walid Ahmad. Defence for Children International said Ahmad suffered from scabies and amoebic dysentery and died after collapsing and hitting his head on a railing.

“Ahmad was one of hundreds of children who continue to be detained across three central prisons, specifically Megiddo, Ofer, and Damon prisons, where all Palestinian minors face similar conditions,” the PPS said.

“The occupation’s prison system deliberately deprives prisoners, including children and women, of the basic elements that could stop the spread of diseases,” it added, calling on the World Health Organisation, humanitarian groups and governments to “intervene urgently”.