RAMALLAH, (PIC)– Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies revealed that 22 Palestinian detainees are suffering from cancer in Israeli jails. They have been detained for long years without being treated. The center’s media spokesman, Riyad al-Ashqar, said that the lives of cancer-stricken detainees are at real risk in light of the harsh detention conditions and the Israeli policy of deliberate medical neglect. They have been taking painkillers only, he highlighted. Many prisoners died because of cancer inside Israeli jails. The last case was that of martyr Maysarah Abu Hamdiya who suffered cancer for long years in captivity with no treatment. Nonetheless, Israeli authorities refused to release him to be treated outside of jail, which led to his death, Ashqar said. Among the prisoners who are currently struggling with cancer inside Israeli jails is captive Bassam al-Sayeh, from Nablus. He is held in Megiddo prison after being lately transferred from Ramleh prison hospital. Sayeh suffers from cancer in the blood and liver. His condition has critically worsened as he is complaining of problems in the lungs and breathing. Another captive is Sami Abu Diyak, 33, from Jenin, who is sentenced to life-imprisonment for three times. He is suffering from tumors in the intestines and infections despite cutting a large part of it. Severe inflammation while in Ramleh hospital has led to a sudden decline in his health condition. As a result, he entered a coma and was transferred to hospital. Murad Saad, 35, from al-Amari refugee camp and sentenced to 12 years, has been suffering from cancer for four years in Israeli prisons. He underwent a surgery to remove tumors in Soroka hospital but his condition has recently worsened to a large extent. He receives painkillers only and complains of severe pain and bleeding. Ashqar pointed out that a number of Palestinian prisoners who get cancer inside Israeli jails died very soon after they had been released. Martyrs of cancer who died that way include Fayiz Zaidat, Zakariya Issa and Hassan Turabi. Ashqar called on all the concerned with the issue of Palestinian prisoners to shed light on the suffering of cancer patients detained in Israeli jails and to work on their release before they lose their lives. He also called on all international institutions especially the World Health Organization and Doctors without Borders to work on releasing cancer detainees.
(Source / 29.02.2016)