The Palestine Center for Prisoners Studies confirmed that the number of martyrs among the Palestinian prisoners’ movement rose during the first half of this year to 237, with the addition of four new martyrs in Israeli prisons, including a minor.

The center stated that the rising number of martyrs is a result of Israel's systematic and criminal policies against prisoners, including deliberate medical neglect of sick detainees and the harsh conditions of detention that lead to the death of prisoners without proper medical care.

Riyad Al-Ashqar, the center's director, revealed a significant increase in the number of prisoners who have died this year. Four prisoners were martyred in just the first six months of the year, compared to five during the entire previous year.

Al-Ashqar highlighted the cases of the four martyrs:

1. Wadi’ Aziz Abu Rmouz, a 16-year-old from Jerusalem, who was martyred in Shaare Zedek Medical Center three days after his arrest. He was shot by Israeli forces in the town of Silwan.
2. Ahmad Badr from Hebron, who died due to deliberate medical neglect after serving 11 years in detention.
3. Mahmoud Jamal Hamdan, a 22-year-old from Aqbat Jabr Refugee Camp in Jericho, who died just 10 hours after his arrest while injured during a raid on the camp on March 1.
4. Khader Adnan, a prominent detainee from Jenin, who was martyred after 86 days of an open hunger strike. Despite the critical deterioration of his health, the Israeli authorities refused to release him or transfer him to a civilian hospital for treatment, keeping him in isolation at the notorious Ramla Prison Clinic without adequate medical care until his death. His body remains withheld by Israeli authorities.

Al-Ashqar also pointed out that the Israeli authorities continue to withhold the bodies of 11 prisoners who have died in custody.

He condemned the brutal policy of withholding the bodies of Palestinian martyrs, which is sanctioned by Israeli law as a means of punishing both the deceased and their families.

Al-Ashqar called on the international community and human rights organizations to form an investigation committee to uncover the real causes of the prisoners’ deaths and to pressure Israel to release the withheld bodies of the martyrs. He emphasized that the Geneva Conventions require occupying powers to return the bodies to their families, respect the dignity of the deceased, and observe their religious rites.

There are currently around 4,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails, including 34 women, according to organizations monitoring prisoners' affairs.

Palestinian prisoners endure harsh and oppressive conditions in Israeli prisons due to the violations perpetrated by Israeli jailers, who deny them even their most basic rights.

Source: Al-Mayadeen