Human Rights and Democracy Media Centers SHAMS

مركز إعلام حقوق الإنسان والديمقراطية "شمس"

Ramallah: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, affirmed that executing the sick (disabled prisoner), Martyr Khaled Al- Shaweesh (53 years old and sentenced to 11 times lifetime imprisonment and detained since 2007) from Al- Faraa Refugee Camp (Toubas), on Wednesday 21/2/2024, is a profound violation of the international human rights law. Martyr Al- Shaweesh died in an Israeli hospital (Assaf Harofe), as a result of the policy of medical negligence. Killing Martyr Al- Shaweesh in this way is a profound violation of international humanitarian law, in particular, the Geneva Third Convention (dated 12/8/1948). Article 13 of the Convention stipulates: “Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest”. Article 15 of the same Convention states: “The Power detaining prisoners of war shall be bound to provide free of charge for their maintenance and for the medical attention required by their state of health”.

The Israeli practices violate Article 24 of the Geneva First Convention, which states: “Medical personnel exclusively engaged in the search for, or the collection, transport or treatment of the wounded or sick, or the prevention of disease, staff exclusively engaged in the administration of medical units and establishments, as well as chaplains attached to the armed forces, shall be respected
and protected in all circumstances.

SHAMS Center calls on the International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC), to fulfill its human and legal responsibilities, by its principles, and contribute to protecting Palestinian prisoners. ICRC is demanded to form an international neutral investigation committee to examine the circumstances of executing prisoner Khaled Al- Shaweesh and the other nine Palestinian prisoners who were executed in the Israeli prisons since October 7, 2023.

SHAMS Center deplores the policies and practices of the Israeli Prisons Authority that tend to execute more Palestinian prisoners and restrict their lives as currently there are no hospitals, medical teams, or clinics to provide prisoners with medical services. The Israeli Authorities deny the entry of medicines and medical supplies to the prisons and interrogation centers. Palestinian prisoners are deprived of basic services including health and medical services, as well as human living standards. The Israeli authorities are increasing the oppression imposed on Palestinian prisoners making use of the fact that the world is busy following up the genocide crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip. Declaring the death of prisoner Al- Shaweesh is a new ring within the series of the crimes being committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian prisoners. It is a sign of shame on the forehead of the occupation leaders who are executing the sick Palestinian prisoners with no respect for any human or ethical values.

SHAMS Center urges the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council, and the governmental/ non-governmental institutions to exert pressure on the occupation’s government to stop its crimes against the Palestinian prisoners and to abide by the principles of the international law in dealing with prisoners.