Ramallah: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center “SHAMS” held the occupation authorities and their prison authority fully responsible for the martyrdom of the 45-year-old prisoner, Dawood Talaat Al-Khatib, from Bethlehem, in Ofer prison, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison, a few months before his supposed release from the occupation prisons. This was a result of him suffering a severe heart attack, according to the information we have obtained, as part of the complications of the deliberate medical negligence that the occupation authorities practiced against him after he suffered a similar stroke three years ago.
“SHAMS” Center condemned this new crime that is added to a long series of Israeli crimes against the prisoners, which confirms the will to kill lurking in the essence of the Israeli colonial system towards the Palestinians and the thirst for it in all forms, through the continuation of the deliberate policy of medical negligence without any respect for any International standards, laws or norms. This medical neglect comes as a result of several factors, the most important of which is the international silence, which in his complicity has become part of the crime. The number of prisoners who have been martyred as a result of deliberate medical negligence has reached (3) prisoners since the beginning of this year. This raises the number of martyrs of the captive movement to 225 prisoners of martyrs since 1967.
”SHAMS” Center stressed the need for the international community to assume responsibilities in pressuring “Israel”, the occupying authority, to oblige it to respect the Geneva Conventions and the rights and guarantees stipulated therein, particularly in terms of medical care as a right for prisoners, not as a gift from the occupation authorities, but as the rights of civilians protected by the conventions and those under Occupation.“SHAMS” Center also called on the High Parties contracting to the agreements to implement their obligations under the first common article, which stipulated: “The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect this agreement and ensure its respect in all cases,” by converting this duty into actual behavior and practice. “SHAMS” Center reiterates its demands for the necessity of opening an impartial UN investigation into the crime and all crimes resulting from the policy of medical negligence in a way that leads to stopping it and punishing those responsible and saving potential new victims as a result of the continuation of this criminal policy.