“The detainee came to see me in a very bad state. I had visited him before 9 months but this time, he looked really tired and weak. He seemed like a different person unable to walk without the assistance of other detainees. He couldn’t move his legs; his voice was husky and hardly audible. In fact, prisoner Amjad Kabha, who was accompanying him, had to relay to me what [Abu Hamdiya] said because I couldn't make out what he was saying.

“After asking him about his health condition, the prisoner said that his health started to deteriorate since August 2012 when he suffered severe throat ache accompanied by swelling in lymphatic and salivary glands. During that period, the prisoner was in Al-Ramoon prison; he went to the prison clinic and was given anti-biotic medications without any tests. Afterwards, the prisoner was given an flu shot after which he immediately suffered chest pain and general aches. The prisoner went once again to the clinic and described his condition to the doctor, who refused to further investigate his condition.

“After pushing the issue with the prison clinic, it was approved to send him to the hospital in October. The date was then delayed to November then delayed again until December. When he went to Soroka hospital in Bir Sheva, the hospital was told that he was brought to the hospital due to eye problems and not because of the pain he suffers in the lungs and chest. Prisoner Abu Hamdiya was then returned to Alramoon prison without doing the needed tests.

“During this period, the prisoner said he began to lose a lot of weight; in fact he lost about 14 kilograms of his weight. On the 10th of January 2013, he was taken to Surka hospital once again, where an ultrasound of the neck was conducted after which a specialist that a biopsy showed he cancer cells in the throat area and that those cells had apparently spread to surrounding glands in the neck area.

“On 17 January 2013, the prisoner was brought back to Suroka hospital, where he had an endoscopy procedure for the throat area. During this period, Abu Hamdiya was suffering from cute throat pain, difficulty swallowing and breathing, phlegm in chest, and suffered from dyspnoea. Throughout that period and until this date, the prisoner wasn’t given any treatment.

“The prisoner added that on 24 January 2013, he was sent to Al-Ramla hospital for a chest radiogram and later sent back to prison. He said that the trip from to and from the hospital was very difficult; said he suffered and his pain kept getting worse. Due to his severe pain, he was given pain killer (Voltarin) suppositories, as he was unable to take painkillers orally because of his acute stomach infections.

“Two weeks later, Abu Hamdiya was transferred to Asaf Harofeh hospital, where he underwent an MRI test of the chest, neck and glands. A gallium scan was also conducted and it was the most painful test of all.

“The doctor at the Asaf Harofeh hospital said more tests were needed to reach a cancer diagnosis and determine its type in order to administer the proper treatment. The doctor also informed ABu Hamdiya that he would be transferred to a hospital in Jerusalem, where more tests will be administered and then he would be sent to a specialist in Soroka hospital. Abu Hamdiya said that on Sunday 10 March 2013, he was transferred from Ramon prison to Eshel prison because, as he was told, it was closer to Soroka hospital. According to the prisoner, on March 12, 2013, he was sent to Soroka hospital, where more tests were administered under full anesthesia, including a throat and abdomen endoscopy. When he came and asked about the results, Abu Hamdiya was told that the results were sent to the doctor in Eshel prison.

“The prisoner said that until this day, he has not received any treatment and that he has only been given painkillers. He confirms that this health is deteriorating with each passing day. Abu Hamdiya has loss of appetite, difficulty in swallowing and acute pains in his body, especially his muscles and ribs. He cannot sleep, day or night, from the pain. He also cannot walk or get to the bathroom without the assistance of other prisoners. ABu Hamdiya cannot stand on his feet and he lies in bed most of the time. He said that he went to the prison clinic and asked them for medication or supplements to improve his appetite but the clinic ignored his request.

“Au Hamdiya called on all free men in this world and all human rights and international organizations to step in and help save his life and cease Israel's policy of medical negligence.”

F.R./M.S.