Samih Alawi: Deliberate Medical Negligence and Martyrdom in Israeli Prisons

  

    

November 20, 2024

Nearly four decades ago, young Samih Alawi joined the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation during the onset of the First Intifada. This marked the beginning of a long journey of arrests that ultimately ended with his martyrdom in Israeli prisons, shackled and a victim of medical neglect.

On Friday morning, it was announced that Alawi, aged 61, had passed away after battling cancer and enduring medical negligence in Israeli prisons.

A week before his death, Alawi’s health deteriorated severely while he was detained in the Negev Prison. He was transferred to the hospital unconscious.

The family learned of his deteriorating condition through a recently released prisoner who handed them Alawi’s pants and shirt, symbolizing Alawi’s awareness of his impending death. The cancer had spread throughout his body while the prison administration delayed providing him proper treatment.

The released prisoner confirmed that Alawi was only transferred to the hospital shortly before his death and had lost over 40 kilograms of his weight. Prior to his most recent arrest in October 2023, he was in good health and weighed over 110 kilograms.

Alawi had previously undergone several surgeries, including the removal of part of his intestines due to a benign tumor. He was scheduled for another surgery in December 2023, but his treatment was halted after his arrest, worsening his condition to the point where he could not even eat small amounts of food.

Before his passing, Alawi told his lawyer that he suffered repeated abuse and mistreatment, especially during transfers to the clinic, where he was always handcuffed. He stated he had not received any medical care since his arrest and could no longer eat, despite intervention by rights organizations to pressure the prison administration to provide him with treatment.

Alawi’s journey with imprisonment began in 1988 and consumed over ten years of his life in various periods of incarceration, in addition to nearly four years in the prisons of the Palestinian Authority.

During his detentions, Alawi was known among fellow prisoners as a humble servant to his peers, without arrogance or expectation of gratitude.

Freed prisoner Fouad Al-Khafash described him as deeply dedicated to serving others:
“Samih was committed to serving his brothers tirelessly, preparing food alone for hours—both breakfast and the main meal—without showing fatigue or seeking thanks. He saw it as his duty. While preparing meals, he would lighten the atmosphere with jokes, smiles, and remarks that uplifted the spirits of the prisoners.”