Lawyers call for probe into death of Palestinian prisoner

Zuhair had been held for five months in Israel’s Ramla prison clinic, but was released and admitted to a hospital in Nablus after he fell into a coma.

I spoke to Addameer lawyers Association who hold Israel accountable for systematically releasing ill prisoners on the brink of death.

It seemed that Zuhair was suffering seriously deteriorating health conditions which included liver and kidney failure.

I spent some time with his family who witnessed the atrocious conditions in prison and the neglect suffered by Zuhair at the hands of the Israeli Prison Service.

I spoke to Zuhair’s son who showed the medical reports from the time of Zuhair’s death.

Suhair has been under constant arrest and held in administrative detention since 1989. This entails being held without charge or trial, which remains illegal under International Law.

Addameer lawyers are now urging the United Nations and the World Health Organisation into creating a committee to investigate the medical conditions of Palestinian. Questions are being asked about the number of prisoners who are released by Israel and then die shortly thereafter.

Although Zuhair’s death was tragic, it’s not the only occasion in which a former prisoner has passed away following medical neglect. For this Addameer are calling for a full investigation and are holding Israel fully accountable.