THE death of a cancer-stricken detainee on Tuesday has raised tensions in Israeli jails as Palestinian prisoners announced a three-day hunger strike.
Maysara Abu Hamdiyeh, a Fatah leader from Hebron who was detained in 2002 and sentenced to life, died in an Israeli hospital on Tuesday from throat cancer which had spread to his spinal cord.
Abu Hamdiyeh had accused Israeli prison authorities of medical neglect and said he was only given pain killers.
He was admitted to Soroka Hospital in late March.
On Tuesday, prisoners from all factions announced a three-day hunger strike. Detainees in Eshel prison, where Abu Hamdiyeh had been detained, set fire to bed covers and later refused to return to their cells.
In Nafha jail, where prisoners had protested for Abu Hamdiyeh’s release, detainees banged on cell doors at the news of his death.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held Israel responsible for Abu Hamdiyeh’s death, his spokesman said.
‘We have warned of this for a long time, and still Israel neglects sick detainees,’ said Nabil Abu Rdeineh.
Palestinian Authority premier Salam Fayyad also condemned Israel’s ‘policy of medical negligence against Palestinian prisoners,’ in a statement from his office.
‘Prime Minister Salam Fayyad expresses his deep sorrow and sincere condolences to the nation and prisoner movement for the death of prisoner Maysara Abu Hamdiyeh,’ the statement added.
Fayyad said Abu Hamdiyeh had played a distinguished role in the national struggle and that ‘his contributions to the just cause of our people will remain alive in our national memory and continued struggle for freedom.’
The premier said the delay in treating Abu Hamdiyeh until the cancer had spread throughout his body was a primary reason for his death.
In Hebron, shops closed as Fatah announced three days of mourning.
Issa Qaraqe, the Palestinian Authority prisoners minister, said: ‘It is a brutal crime against Maysara especially as the prison administration knew that he was suffering from cancer and they didn’t release him and medically neglected him.’
The minister held the Israeli government responsible for Abu Hamdiyeh’s death and called for an international committee to investigate Israel’s failure to provide him with treatment earlier.
During a recent prison visit, ‘Abu Maysara seemed unable to hold up his head’ and had difficulty speaking, the lawyer said. He had lost 15kg.
He is the 207th Palestinian to die in Israeli custody.
Political leaders and factions condemned Hamdiyeh’s death. The Arab Liberation Front said Israel’s prison services had killed him ‘in cold blood.’
Palestinian MP Mustafa Barghouthi, a doctor, called for an international criminal investigation into the detainee’s death.
Fatah central committee member Abbas Zaki said Israel had medically neglected Abu Hamdiyeh and left him to die. ‘Israel is responsible for the death,’ Zaki said.
The head of the Palestinian Higher Judicial Council, Sheikh Yousif Ideis, said Israel’s prison administration does not respect the human rights of detainees and refused to treat Abu Hamdiyeh.
All detainees have rights which Israel must respect, the sheikh said.
Fatah called for popular marches in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners.
Maysara Abu Hamdiyeh, was a married father of four who spent decades of his life in exile.
Born in Hebron on September 25, 1949, he was first imprisoned by Israel in 1969, accused of membership of the General Union of Palestinian Students.
Abu Hamdiyeh received a diploma in electronics in Cairo, and later studied law at university in Beirut, but, wanted by Israel, he never graduated.
Between 1970 and 1975, he lived in Syria, Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan. Every time he returned to the West Bank he was detained without charge.
In 1978, Abu Hamdiyeh was exiled to Jordan but returned to Palestine two decades later. A Fatah leader, he worked as a general in the Palestinian Authority’s Preventive Security.
He was arrested again in May 2002, and in 2005 an Israeli court sentenced him to 25 years. Israeli military authorities appealed for a lengthier sentence, and in 2007 Abu Hamdiyeh was sentenced to life.
Since his arrest in 2002, Israel has banned his four children from visiting him.
In August 2012, Abu Hamdiyeh suffered severe throat pain. Five months later he was diagnosed with throat cancer.
He complained of medical neglect by Israeli prison authorities, and said in March that he was only given pain killers.
At times he was transferred to Soroka Hospital, a trip he described as ‘another journey of suffering.’ The cancer spread to his spinal cord.
In late March, Abu Hamdiyeh was finally admitted to the hospital, where he died last Tuesday morning.
Expressing his sorrow and condolences, Palestinian Authority premier Salam Fayyad praised Abu Hamdiyeh’s distinguished role in the national struggle for freedom and said ‘his contributions to the just cause of our people will remain alive in our national memory and continued struggle for freedom.’
There are 25 Palestinians diagnosed with cancer currently in Israeli jails.
Of the 207 Palestinians who have died in Israeli custody since 1967, 54 died from medical negligence, the Palestinian Authority says.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces seized a 27-year-old woman from her home in a pre-dawn raid in Doha, near Bethlehem, relatives said.
Soldiers raided Hiba Bahjat’s home at 1.30am and detained her, her parents told a news conference, adding that she is sick and needs treatment.
Forces also confiscated her cell phone, computer and wedding album.
Bahjat has two daughters, aged five and seven.
An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed six Palestinians were arrested overnight in raids across the West Bank.
One person was arrested in Bethlehem, two in Tuqu, one in Rummana, one in Hebron and another in al-Arrub refugee camp, she said.
In Tuqu, south of Bethlehem, locals said Tareq Abu Mefreh, 24, and Ayman al-Badan, 22, were detained. They said soldiers raided several homes in the village.
Residents of Rummana, near Jenin, told Ma’an that 23-year-old Muhammad Mahajneh was detained in a raid on his home.
Israeli forces have increased restrictions at the Dotan checkpoint between Jenin and Tulkarem over the last week, searching cars and checking IDs, an eye witness said.
