Palestinian prisoner dies of ‘medical negligence’ in Israeli jail: Report

A Palestinian prisoner has died of health complications he developed in Israeli jails and medical negligence, Palestinian media report.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported that 57-year-old Hussain Hassani Ataollah died in the northern occupied West Bank city of Nablus, located approximately 49 kilometers north of Jerusalem al-Quds, on Saturday afternoon, Arabic-language Safa news agency reported.

His son, Shadi, said that the office of the Palestinian Civil Liaison at the Ministry of Civil Affairs had informed him of his father’s death.

He added that the late prisoner was transferred last Wednesday from Ramla prison hospital to Assaf Harofeh Medical Center after his health condition deteriorated seriously and he slipped into a coma.

Shadi further noted that Israeli officials had previously rejected five petitions demanding his father’s release, alleging that he posed a threat to the Tel Aviv regime.

Relatives of the late Palestinian inmate also said he was last seen very emaciated, breathing through an oxygen mask.

Hassani Ataollah was serving 32 years in prison for the alleged murder of an Israeli police officer in the West Bank village of Taybeh, located 15 kilometers northeast of Jerusalem al-Quds. He had served 22 years of his jail term before he died.

Some 7,000 Palestinians are currently behind bars in 17 Israeli prisons and detention centers, according to reports.

More than 400 Palestinians are being held without trial under so-called administrative detention, which is a policy according to which Palestinian inmates are kept in Israeli detention facilities without trial or charge. Some Palestinian prisoners have been held in administrative detention for up to 11 years.

Furthermore, a total of 13 Palestinian lawmakers are currently held in Israeli detention facilities, nine of whom under administrative detention.