Hurryyat: IPS Continues Medical Negligence and Child Harassment

Ibtisam Al-Anati, Attorney of the Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurryyat” visited several Israeli prisons, particularly the Hadarim Detention Center, Meggido, Ramon, Nafha, HaSharon, Ofer, and Ramla prisons, and met with several prisoners including Moutasem Yasin, Haytham ‘Anati, Zaki Anees, Ayman Bani Odeh, Noor Atatra, Tarek Abbadi, Baher ‘Ashou, Shady Halawa, Hussein Dirbas, Ibrahim Ighbarieh, Nader Jaffal, Abdul Fattah Doleh, minor Khaled Al-Sheikh, Marwan Waheed Al-Bakri, Mohamad Hassan Bassa, Ashraf Abu Al-Huda, Maslama Thabet, and Rateb Hreibat.

In Ramon Prison, the met detainees stated that the situation in prison has remained the same despite the agreement between the prisoners and the judge to “return transferred prisoners to prison, extend family visits for Gazan families to one hour, allow monthly visits instead of bimonthly visits,” and confessed that the policy of medical negligence including offering treatment and surgeries on time is ongoing. In the Ramla Hospital Prison, Al-Anati visited 16 sick detainees namely: Mansour Mewqada, Nahed Al-Aqra, Iyad Radwan, Rateb Hreibat, Mohammad Salaymeh, Mahmoud Abu Osba’, Shadi Daraghmeh, Hassan Haddad, Motaz Obeido, Ashraf Abu alHuda, Yousif Nawajaa’, Salah al-Titi, Mo’tassem Raddad, Mustafa Balut, Anan Jallad, and Khalid al-Shawish. The prisoners condemned the conditions of the Ramla Hospital to be bad as the department is small and lacks the treatment requirements for their chronic diseases that need utmost care. They told the lawyer that all sick prisoners are being given the same painkiller called “Crantex” that is ineffective in some cases. They also affirmed being constantly body checked following management orders leaving the department isolated. In Meggido Prison, prisoner Baher Barakat Saleh Ashou from Nablus, detained in 31/03/2002, admitted suffering from heart problems as a result of mitral valve malfunction while the malfunction was already detected in his solitary confinement in Hadarim Detention Center. Baher confirmed the deliberate negligence of his health conditions; he is not taking medication, demands reviewing his medical file, and demands medical assistance. Shadi Samir Halawa, detained in Ramon Prison, is suffering from a nervous disorder and hepatitis C, and he is in need of Proctocolectomy. As for Marwan Waheed Al-Bakri from Jerusalem, Al-Anati met him in HaSharon Prison where he admitted developing a skin disease upon his imprisonment and despite being given medication and lotions, his health condition is not improving.

Regarding the Palestinian minor detainees, the number of minors in Ofer Prison reached 99, 33 of whom are convicted while the rest are detained. Since the beginning of 2015, 89 children have been detained in a rate of one child every day; 4 children in January, 23 in February, and 21 in March. The prisoners in Ofer confirmed an increase in verdicts and fines against children detained in February, where some verdicts reached 9 months while others ranged between 9-26 months. Yet March was milder witnessing verdicts ranging from 5 to 7 months of imprisonment. The health conditions of minors in Ofer registered 34 conditions under the supervision of the

prison clinic, and concerning their education, the elder prisoners have provided them with a special educational program, and equipped classrooms.

Minor Khalid Al-Sheikh, arrested in Ofer for 4 months and expected to be released in the coming days, reported being in good health after visiting the clinic, doing a blood test, and taking vitamin supplements (B-12 and iron).

The 34 Jerusalem minor detainees reside in HaSharon Prison and have reported being physically abused by the Nahshon Battalion members, and expressed their need to press charges addressing the competent authorities. Fadi Salaymeh, for example, pressed charges against being beaten in court and in front of his parents who in turn demanded lawyers from the different competent organizations to increase their visits to minor detainees for the positive effect these visits pose upon the psychology of the minor prisoner.

Hurryyat condemned the continuous policy of medical negligence committed by the Israeli Prison Services (IPS) against the Palestinian prisoners. Hurryyat also condemned the policy of child harassment during the arrest and interrogation, and addressed the international community, the World Health Organization, the International Community of the Red Cross, and the UNICEF to act upon their obligations and condemn the Israeli policies committed against the prisoners in general, and the patients and children in particular. Hurryyat called for exerting pressure on the Israeli government to stop these policies and to form investigation commissions that can visit prisons and monitor closely and truthfully the violations of torture and deliberate medical negligence.