In Israel: Palestinian Prisoners Health conditions deteriorate

Gaza - Recent reports revealed that Israel is deliberately neglecting medical requirements of patients with cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other disabilities such as blindness is a flagrant disregard of rights guaranteed under international law.

A European Network to Support the Rights of Palestinians Prisoners (UFree) based on Norway, demanded Saturday 21.05.2011, prompt implementation of international treaties and accords that protect rights and health conditions of prisoners in the occupied Palestinian territories. The organization called on an immediate implementation of these accords as health conditions of Palestinian prisoners severely deteriorate in Israeli jails In press statements, UFree expressed its deep concerns about the conditions of Palestinian detainees’ health in Israeli prisons, following reports of medical neglect leaving prisoners permanently disabled and sometimes dead. The organization perceived these Israeli measures as direct slow sentences of death against the prisoners. Recent reports revealed that Israel is deliberately neglecting medical requirements of patients with cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other disabilities such as blindness is a flagrant disregard of rights guaranteed under international law. At a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) meeting, sixty five countries voted in favour of a resolution condemning the deteriorating health of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails. UFree called on international and human rights organisations to intervene against Israel's actions to provide necessary health services to Palestinian prisoners and to preserve their lives and release the sick detainees. "We support the call by WHO to form an international mission of medical specialists alongside the International Red Cross to monitor the health status of prisoners of patients, especially the provision of immediate treatment." Said the organisation It has also called that international resolutions related to Palestinian detainees must now be followed by practical steps to save the lives of those with chronic illnesses or injuries. It is worth to mention that Israel detains around 6000 Palestinian prisoners of different ages and genders. Different sorts of torture and humiliation are exerted against prisoners who lack their basic rights. There is over 1000 prisoners with different diseases, including chronic diseases such as heart. They lack basic health care needs. UFree is an independent European human rights network based in Europe, Norway. It aims to defend the Rights of Palestinian Prisoners. The network is the only institution in Europe that is specialized in defending the rights of Palestinians prisoners. It is staffed with lawyers, scholars, researchers and human rights activists.