West Bank: strike and demonstrations after the death of a Palestinian prisoner in Israel
Palestinians demonstrate following the death of Nasser Abu Amid in Ramallah, December 20, 2022. REUTERS - MOHAMAD TOROKMAN
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In the major Palestinian cities of the West Bank, a general strike took place on Tuesday following the death of the famous Palestinian prisoner Nasser Abu Hamid.
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From our correspondent in Ramallah,
Alice Froussard
The co-founder of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of Fatah, had been behind bars for 20 years.
Nasser Abu Hamid died this Tuesday, December 20 in the morning.
The condition of the Palestinian prisoner had seriously deteriorated in recent days.
On Monday afternoon, Nasser Abu Hamid was transferred from the Ramleh prison clinic in Israel to the hospital and a visit was arranged for his family to see him, but he was already in a coma.
His mother evokes an
"extremely difficult"
moment , but specifies that she
"had the chance to be able to say goodbye to him and to pray for him"
.
Mohammed Shtayyeh, Palestinian Prime Minister, denounces a
“policy of deliberate medical negligence by the prison administration”
and holds Israel responsible for his death.
“
Medical negligence
” for Palestinian officials
According to prisoners' rights advocates, Israeli prison authorities regularly delay medical examinations and
"Nasser Abu Hamid's chest pains had been ignored for months"
, says Abdullah al-Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners' Society.
“
Abu Hamid's lawyers were fighting for his release to receive proper treatment.
They asked the Israeli courts five times to release him, five times they refused,”
he adds.
A situation denounced by the governor of Ramallah, Laila Ghannam: “
Some say that it is medical negligence, but it is not the case, it is a medical murder, a murder for all our prisoners.
The world should take a stand, especially those who claim to respect democracy and human rights.
»
The Israeli prison administration refutes these claims and emphasizes that “
the prisoner was treated conscientiously and continuously by the prison medical staff.
»
Demonstrations in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin...
This Tuesday, in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem, the streets were empty.
Businesses had closed, as had restaurants, cafes, cultural institutions and schools in tribute to the prisoner.
And dozens of armed activists marched through the cities.
At 50, this Palestinian from the al-Amari camp near Ramallah had been behind Israeli bars since 2002 and sentenced to life for
"murders and attempted murders"
during the second Intifada.
In 2021, when he was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, officials and Palestinian rights activists called for his release, to no avail.
Since 1967, more than 70 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons of "
medical negligence
", estimates the Palestinian Prisoners Society.
► To read also: In Israel, the number of administrative detainees reaches a record figure
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