RAMALLAH, May 1, 2012 (WAFA) – A Palestinian human rights organization Tuesday expressed deep concern for the lives of two prisoners in Israeli jails on hunger for 63 days in a row.
Over 1600 prisoners Tuesday entered 15 days of hunger strike demanding better conditions and an end to administrative detention and solitary confinement.
Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association said in a statement that it “expresses utmost concern for the lives of Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh, currently on their 63rd full day of hunger strike in protest of their administrative detention.”
It said an independent doctor from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-Israel) determined on Monday that Diab “is at immediate risk of death” and that both he and Halahleh “must be transferred immediately to a civilian hospital in order to receive adequate medical attention.”
It said the visit by PHR-Israel was only the second visit from an independent doctor since the beginning of their hunger strikes, and only came following a legal petition filed in an Israeli District Court for the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) to allow access to both prisoners in Ramleh prison medical center.
According to PHR-Israel, “both detainees suffer from acute muscle weakness in their limbs, which prevents them from standing. They both are in need of full assistance in daily activities such as showering, though such help is not provided in the IPS clinic. They both suffer from an acute decrease in muscle tone and are bedridden, which puts them under dual threat: muscle atrophy and Thromobophilia, which can lead to a fatal blood clot.”
Addameer expressed fear that both prisoners’ serious medical condition “has been met with inadequate and harmful responses by the IPS in the Ramleh prison medical center,” in addition “to the reckless transfers back and forth to the hospital.”
Both have reported that prison guards had recently entered their cells and carried out violent searches. Halahleh has also reported being abused by an IPS doctor two days prior.
Addameer said it “condemns the IPS’ blatant violation of medical ethics,” holding the Israeli authorities responsible for their current condition.
It called on the international community to demand that both prisoners be immediately admitted to civilian hospitals, without further transfers, and that they have unconditional access to independent doctors and their lawyers.
It also urged the European Union, the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross “to take immediate action and intervene with Israel in the strongest manner possible to save Bilal and Thaer’s lives before it is too late.”
M.S.
