[WCUSP] Fifth Palestinian dies in Israeli detention this year - Paula Abrams-Hourani

Tue Jan 1 14:50:28 CST 2008

----- Original Message -----
From: Paula Abrams-Hourani

Dear,

I received this shocking news today, together with the other mailing
from Elana Wesley, that 193  prisoners have died in detention since
1967.

Also forwarded to you separately are Henry Lowi's and my note to Mr.
Mallett of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which was
sent out yesterday.  Henry advised on and virtually drafted the
letter.    Due to the urgency and the holiday I decided to send it
before getting signatures.

This situation is not even mentioned in the media and I believe the
Red Cross should certainly be doing much more or is not even doing
anything to protect these people.  The least we can do is ask the
questions we asked in our letter and perhaps also ask the Israeli
Medical Association why they have not done more and are allowing this
to happen.

I should be grateful if you would see fit to distribute this together
with the letter which I dispatched by mail yesterday.
Thanking you for all of your immeasurable help and   in spite of
overwhelmingly depressing news, let us hope for a brighter 2008 for us
all!

love,
Paula

.    ----- Original Message -----
From: Elana Wesley
To: Elana Wesley
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 4:57 AM
Subject: Fifth Palestinian dies in Israeli detention this year

Palestinian dies in Israeli detention
Report, PCHR, 30 December 2007
Electronic Intifada

Palestinians hold pictures of relatives jailed in Israeli prisons
during a protest in front of the Red Cross offices in Gaza City,
December 2007. (Wissam Nassar/MaanImages)

Palestinian prisoner Fadi Abd al-Latif Abu al-Rob (21) from the town
of Qabatia near Jenin died in the Israeli prison of Jalbou' on the
evening of 28 December 2007. The prisoner was a member of Islamic
Jihad detained on 29 June 2007.

According to information gathered by PCHR, Fadi suffered an illness on
the morning of the day he died. He was transferred to the prison
clinic. However, his condition deteriorated and the Israeli Prisons
Authority announced his death in the evening without specifying the
cause.

Fadi is the fifth Palestinian prisoner to die in Israeli jails during
2007. Four died as a result of medical negligence and the fifth was
shot in the head by an anti-riot unit that broke into sections G1 and
G2 of the Ketziot (Ansar III) detention center in the Negev.  [How is
it that Palestinian prisoners in their 20s die under Israeli
incarceration? - Elana]

It is noted that Palestinian prisoners are suffering very harsh and
cruel conditions as a result of the deterioration in prison conditions
and in the healthcare provided. These conditions violate Articles 22
and 26 of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of
Prisoners. In addition, Israeli authorities impose restrictions to
place more pressure on prisoners, and deprive them of their visitation
rights.

PCHR calls upon the international community to put an end to the
suffering of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and
detention centers under conditions that violate International
Humanitarian Law. In light of the death of Fadi Abu al-Rob and the
harsh conditions of Palestinian prisoners due to Israeli systematic
policies of torture, medical negligence, and inhumane treatment, PCHR
calls upon:

The Israeli Prisons Authority to form an independent commission to
investigate the death of Fadi Abu al-Rob, and to announce the results.
The International Committee of the Red Cross to establish a special
medical committee to investigate the health conditions of Palestinian
prisoners detained by Israel.
The international community and relevant international humanitarian
organizations to provide the minimum basic requirements of life and
health care for thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Related Links

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
BY TOPIC: Arrest and Detention

Latest articles on EI:

Palestine : Human Rights: B'Tselem: 373 Palestinians killed by Israeli
forces in 2007 (31 December 2007)
Palestine : Opinion/Editorial: Democracy: An existential threat? (30
December 2007)
Palestine : Human Rights: Palestinian dies in Israeli detention (30
December 2007)
Palestine : Opinion/Editorial: Beware of Barak (28 December 2007)
Palestine : Diaries: Live from Palestine: A Palestinian love story (27
December 2007)
Palestine : Development: Egypt aid conditioned on enforcing Gaza siege
(27 December 2007)
Palestine : Business & Economy: Blair's misguided economic optimism
(27 December 2007)
Palestine : Art, Music & Culture: In Gaza, Santa is insolvent (25 December 2007)
Palestine : Human Rights: Israel denies entry to Christian clergy (25
December 2007)
Palestine : Opinion/Editorial: In the same prison together (24 December 2007)

_______________________________________________
womeninblack mailing list
womeninblack at listas.nodo50.org
http://listas.nodo50.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/womeninblack
this is the international WiB mailing-out list, for the INTERACTIVE
WiB e-list, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/interactiveWiB