Day Of Palestine – Ramallah
Cancer-stricken Palestinian prisoner Sami Abu Diyak, from the West Bank district of Jenin, died on Tuesday in Israeli occupation jails due to medical negligence, said the Palestinian Prisoner Society.
Abu Diyak, 36, was detained in 2002 and was diagnosed with intestinal cancer as well as kidney and lung failures couple of years ago.
Yesterday, the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) has warned that cancer-stricken prisoner Sami Abu Diyak may die any moment after his health condition reached a very critical stage.
In a letter he wrote a few days ago, the Palestinian detainee Sami Abu Diak said he wanted to "die in my mother's lap."
Today, and due to the deliberate medical neglect by "Israel," Abu Diak died, alone and handcuffed on a cold bed.
Although Abu Diak was suffering from an advanced stage of cancer and other serious health problems, the Israeli court rejected all pleas to release him to receive proper medical care.
The PPS held the Israeli occupation government fully responsible for the racist crimes committed against Palestinians, including the physical and psychological torture and medical negligence of prisoners, among other violations, calling for an investigation into these crimes.
The death of Abu Diak brings the number of Palestinian prisoners who died in Israeli jails since 1967 to 222 prisoners.
At least 700 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails suffer from serious health conditions, of whom 160 prisoners are in need of urgent medical follow-up.
Palestinians have accused the Israeli authorities of failing to provide proper medical treatment or even delay treatment to ill prisoners causing as a result deterioration in their health.
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.”
