The Israeli Occupation
Authorities persist their oppression on prisoners and detainees in prisons
disregarding their health conditions with the lack of minimal medical care
resulting in the death of 233 prisoners since 1967 including 74 due to medical
negligence. The latest victim of this policy was the prisoner Nasser Abu Hmeid
who passed away at the age of 50 in Assaf Harofeh Medical Center.
Abu Hamid
was transferred from Ramleh Prison to Assaf Harofeh Hospital by occupation
forces on Monday after his health deteriorated, to be announced later as dead, on
December 20, 2022.
The
Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness) affirms the Palestinians’
right to life and medical care as noncompromising rights regardless of the
holder’s status, the nature, place and time of his stay, or being in prison.
The association condemns the Israeli forces’ arbitrary treatment towards
Palestinian prisoners and taking into consideration the international norms and
conventions.
It is
noteworthy that the 50-year-old Abu Hmeid’s health had been deteriorating since
August 2021 while he suffered from chest pain that was diagnosed to be a lung
tumor.
He was
transferred again to Asqalan prison where his health collapsed. Although the
doctors affirmed his urgent need for chemotherapy, the Israeli delayed his
treatment until the cancer spread all over his body.
He was
arrested for the first time at the age of 13, and the Israeli forces attempted
for his assassination several times. He was rearrested along with his brother
Nassr in Qalandiya camp to be sentenced to seven life terms and thirty years.
The course
of Nassir Abu Hamid’s life summarizes the genuine suffer of every Palestinian
who is targeted at many levels and deprived from his right to a just and stable
life. He is the brother of the martyr Abdel Moneim Abu Hmeid, the prisoner
Nasr, who is sentenced to five life terms, Sharif, who is sentenced to four
life terms, Muhammad, who is sentenced to two life terms and thirty years, and
Islam, who is sentenced to life term and eight years. The Israeli forces
demolished his family house five times, his mother was prohibited from visiting
him for several years, and he couldn’t attend his father’s funeral who died
while Nassir was in prison.
The
Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs had previously warned for the
death of Nassir Abu Hmeid at any moment due to his deteriorating health
conditions and blames the Israeli Authorities for the "Medical homicide policy”.
It also pointed to the lack of minimal treatment necessities for prisoner’s
health in Israeli prisons and violating their basic health rights.
It is
noteworthy that the medical homicide policy that the Israeli authorities adopt
to neutralize detainees and prisoners and humiliate them and their families,
just represents a form of the Israelis oppression.
The gross
violation against Palestinian prisoners demonstrates a clear transgression of
many of the basic rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and the International Human law that necessitates a special treatment
towards prisoners especially from the Israeli occupation who are the party
depriving them from liberty.
According to
Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, everyone has the
right to life, liberty, and security of person. The International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination 1969 guarantees the right to enjoy general
health services and medical care for everyone regardless of their race, color,
national or ethnic origin.
Article 15
of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 1949 requires
the state that holds prisoners of war to rescue them and provide the medical
care according to their health condition free of charge. It also stipulates the
necessity of convenient clinics that provide medical care for prisoners, while
to transfer them to treatment units in case they need special treatment or
surgery, and conducting periodic examinations for following-up their health
conditions.
The Fourth
Geneva Convention guarantees for the prisoners the right to medical care and
constant monitoring of their health conditions in their confinement to be
provided by the arresting authority.
The right to
life that is accompanied by the right to health care being one of the basic
human rights is guaranteed by the International Human Rights law and the
International Human Law .
In this
context, the Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness)denounces the systematic medical negligence policy the Israeli prisons
administration adopts that threatens prisoners’ lives and leads to the death of
many. This act is considered a blatant violation of the International Law
especially the rights health, and thus the association calls for the following:
1.
The United Nations to form a special
international commission of inquiry to find out the circumstances of the
Israeli violations against Palestinian prisoners, especially the sick.
2.
Pressure on the occupation authorities to
provide basic guarantees for Palestinian prisoners, which stem from their
obligations as an occupying power under international law.
3.
International Committee of the Red Cross to
follow up on the health status of the prisoners and refer the violations that
affect them to human rights organizations to put pressure on the prison
administration and avoid the death of prisoners as a result of medical
negligence.