An early release hearing for Palestinian prisoner Sami Abu Diak, currently in critical condition in Assaf Harofeh hospital after a serious infection set in following surgery for colon cancer, was postponed for one month until 25 October.
Kamel Natour, Palestinian lawyer, denounced the one-month postponement, noting that Abu Diak is breathing through a ventilator and in a coma, after four surgeries for colon cancer after which he developed an infection in Soroka Hospital, with serious health repercussions.
Abu Diak was transferred from Soroka Hospital back to prison before his recovery was complete, making him particularly vulnerable to infection. The Israeli prison administration’s mistreatment and abuse of sick Palestinian prisoners is a constant threat to the lives and health of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
Issa Qaraqe, chair of the Prisoners’ Affairs Committee, also denounced the delay, saying that the full month of delay “reflets clearly Israel’s denial of the humanity of Palestinian prisoners, and its disregard and contempt for the lives of prisoners even when they are on their deathbed.”
The Palestinian lawyers demanded full investigation about medical negligence praticed against Abu Diak.
