Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission and Palestinian Prisoners’ Club - November 14, 2024
The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported a severe deterioration in the health of Ismail Yusuf Taqatqa (40 years old) from Beit Fajjar, Bethlehem. Taqatqa was released on August 29, 2024, from Hadassah Hospital after spending five months in detention. A week after his release, he was diagnosed with leukemia.
The Commission and the Club stated that the Israeli occupation committed a medical crime against Taqatqa, similar to hundreds of other sick prisoners who face systematic medical neglect in Israeli prisons. These medical crimes have led to the deaths of several prisoners since the onset of the war, as detainees are denied even the most basic treatment. Coupled with harsh and inhumane detention conditions, repeated assaults, and acts of torture and humiliation, this systematic neglect has caused a surge in the number of sick prisoners and the emergence of chronic illnesses.
The Commission and the Club emphasized that the Israeli authorities compounded their crime by refusing to allow Taqatqa to be transferred to a hospital in the territories occupied in 1948, citing “security concerns.” Efforts are currently underway to transfer him to Jordan for an urgent bone marrow transplant.
Taqatqa, who had no prior health issues before his arrest in March 2024, began to experience sudden and severe health deterioration while detained in Ofer Prison. When his condition worsened significantly, he was transferred to Hadassah Hospital and later released under restrictive conditions. He has been hospitalized at An-Najah University Hospital since his release.
The Commission and the Club noted that most prisoners released after the war continue to suffer from various health problems. Many required immediate hospitalization upon release, and medical examinations revealed chronic illnesses they had not suffered from prior to their detention. Prisoners also reported general health symptoms and complications following their release, based on their testimonies.
The Commission and the Club warned that the prolonged detention of prisoners, coupled with ongoing retaliatory measures after the war, will exacerbate the health crisis in Israeli prisons. Even previously healthy detainees are now suffering from new medical conditions, making it increasingly difficult for organizations to track the number of sick prisoners. This challenge is compounded by the rising number of detainees, the scale of abuse, and the detention of dozens of injured individuals.
A significant health catastrophe has also emerged in several prison sections due to the outbreak of scabies (skybos).
One prominent example of medical negligence is the case of Farouq Al-Khatib, a former prisoner who was released in December 2023. Al-Khatib was diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer shortly after his release and passed away five months later.
The Commission urged families of released prisoners to immediately transfer their loved ones to the nearest hospital for comprehensive medical examinations and to obtain initial health reports to document their conditions. This step is crucial given the alarming health trends among both current and former prisoners.
The Commission and the Club reiterated their call for the international human rights system to regain its role in addressing the ongoing genocide against Palestinian prisoners, which manifests in systematic medical crimes and neglect in Israeli prisons and detention camps.