Sami Abu Diak and other Palestinian prisoners confront medical crises and neglect

Palestinian prisoner Sami Abu Diak, 33, of Jenin, has been moved to Assaf Harofe hospital on Sunday, 13 September after a severe deterioration of his health in the Ramle prison clinic. Abu Diak, who recently underwent surgery to remove a large portion of his colon, is suffering from colon cancer. He is currently in intensive care and suffering inflammation of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Abu Diak is not alone in facing a medical crisis in Israeli prisons. Yousri Al-Masri, 31, was transferred on 12 September from Eshel prison to Nafha prison. Al-Masri suffers from lymphoma, which has spread to his liver and elsewhere in his body. He has blurry vision, eye pain and chronic insomnia. He has been repeatedly denied and delayedt treatment for his cancer and related conditions. fathi-abuhamadFathi Abu Hamid, 30, is now scheduled to have a tonsillectomy on 21 September after several years of severe tonsil infections; after a serious decline in his health, doctors at Soroka Hospital ordered the surgery. However, the Israeli prison administration ordered its delay on several occasions. He was to receive the surgery on Saturday before yet another delay. Salah Al-Titi, a resident of Al-Aroub refugee camp, is suffering from kidney and bladder problems, has a urostomy, is suffering from dizziness, pain and blurred vision and is receiving only painkillers in the Ramle prison clinic, reported Palestinian lawyer Hanan al-Khatib on Sunday. He has appealed for medical release three times and been rejected three times. Murad Saad, a resident of Al-Amari refugee camp, is a cancer patient held in Ramle prison clinic. Suffering from colon cancer, his entire large intestine was removed and he has a colostomy. He continues to experience severe pain and is receiving little or delayed treatment, said al-Khatib. abdelfattah-houshiaMeanwhile, Abdel Fattah Houshia, 23, who has completed three of his four year sentence, is suffering from frequent blackouts and has a potential diagnosis of epilepsy or potential meningitis. However, rather than receiving hospital care, Houshia has been transferred via “Bosta” from Eshel to Gilboa prison. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network emphasizes the full responsibility of the Israeli occupation for the health and life of these and all Palestinian prisoners, noting that Palestinian prisoners are subject to continuous medical neglect, dangerous delays in surgery and treatment and mistreatement of serious medical conditions with painkillers only. We urge international action and solidarity to save the lives of these Palestinian prisoners and demand the freedom of all of the patient prisoners held in Israeli jails.