RAMALLAH, Tuesday, November 10, 2020 (WAFA) – Cancer-stricken Palestinian prisoner, Kamal Abu Wa’er, 46, died today in Israeli jails following a severe deterioration in his health due to medical negligence.
Abu Waer, from Jenin’s town of Qabatiya, suffered from throat cancer. He was arrested in 2003 and sentenced to multiple life sentences for resisting the occupation.
Abu Wa’er was the first Palestinian prisoner in Israeli detention to have tested positive for the highly contagious virus.
Qadri Abu Bakr, head of the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Commission in the Palestinian Authority, held the Israeli authorities fully responsible for the death of Abu Wa’er, slamming his death as a premeditated crime committed by the Israeli prison service, which was fully aware of the seriousness of his health condition and refused to release him despite many calls made for his immediate release.
He stressed that this crime demonstrates the failure of the international community and its institutions to hold Israel accountable, warning that the continued silence on these practices will encourage the Israeli occupation to continue perpetrating crimes against Palestinians.
The death of Abu We’ar brings the number of Palestinian prisoners who died in Israeli jails since 1967 to 226.
According to Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights organization, “in regard to adequate medical attention and treatment, Article 91 [of the Fourth Geneva Convention] emphasizes that “every place of internment shall have an adequate infirmary…” and that “Internees may not be prevented from presenting themselves to the medical authority for examination.” In addition to this article, Article 92 asserts that “Medical inspections of internees shall be made at least once a month…”. It is evident that the withholding of treatment, or access to a medical professional, is a violation of these specific provisions, and therefore a violation of international humanitarian law.”
Addameer asserts that the Israeli Prison Service maintains a systematic policy of medical negligence toward Palestinian detainees.
T.R.
