Raafat Hamdouna, a human rights activist, called on the World Health Organization, the United Nations, Palestinian, Arab, and international humanitarian and human rights institutions to put pressure on the Israeli occupation to save the lives of prisoners suffering from cancer in Israeli prisons on Sunday, February 5, 2023.

In a statement, Hamdouna said that the number of Palestinian cancer-stricken prisoners exceeded twenty, indicating that the detention environment is the most factor of cancer, and medical negligence is the main cause of their death.

In addition, he pointed out that prisoner Nasser Abu Hamid was the latest victim of cancer in Israeli prisons. He died due to medical negligence practiced by Israeli occupation authorities on January 20, 2023.

Some prisoners died of cancer after their release from Israeli prisons, the last of which was Nabil Eliwa, Activist Hamdouna added. Eliwa’s suffering from cancer started while in Israeli detention until he died two days ago.

Hamdouna explained that the main reason for the spread of cancer is due to the fact that the Dimona reactor, the Israeli nuclear installation, is located near the Negev, Nafha, Raymon, and Saba prisons. He added that the Israeli jamming devices located at the prison gates constitute another cause of cancer spread.

Hamdouna warned that prisoners with cancer live in escalating danger as a result of medical negligence. Israeli occupation authorities do not provide them with health care, necessary medicines, periodic medical examinations, or adequate food.

He also called for obligating the occupation authorities to abide by the articles and provisions of the 3rd and 4th Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, especially with regard to health care, treatment, and medical follow-up.