Wounded Palestinian child prisoner’s appeal hearing postponed for medical report

The hearing on the case of wounded Palestinian child prisoner Osama Zeidat, 15, at the Israeli Ofer military court was continued on Monday, 2 December. Osama was shot with two bullets in the back and the foot by Israeli occupation forces on 23 September near his town of Bani Naim near al-Khalil. The court required the submission of detailed medical reports on the case before continuing the hearing.

Akram Samara, a Palestinian lawyer, said that the hearing was an appeal filed by the defense against the imprisonment of Osama until the end of the military court procedures. Osama is accused of seeking to stab Israeli soldiers or settlers, but is the only person who was injured. He was severely hurt and was held for three weeks in Shaare Tzedek hospital, during which time he was entirely prohibited from receiving family visits.

He received a metal implant in his foot, which has continued to cause him great pain; he was moved to the Ramle prison clinic shortly after his surgery, to which his family has attributed medical neglect and further deterioration of his condition. Doctors have recently stated that Osama will likely need a new surgical operation on his foot. On several occasions, Osama has been transported to military court in a hospital bed, while on other occasions court hearings have been cancelled due to the impossibility of moving him.

His family is urging his immediate release to his home in order to receive medical care and treatment for his severe injury.