The Palestinian Authority has demanded an international investigation into the death of detainee Saadia Farajallah, 68, in an Israeli prison.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh held Israeli authorities fully responsible for the death of Farajallah.
Shtayyeh called on international human rights organizations to launch an investigation into the circumstances of her death and to put pressure on Israel to release all female and male prisoners, especially the sick and minors.
Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates called on international organizations, such as the Red Cross, to shoulder their responsibilities toward the Palestinian captives in Israel, particularly the medical negligence in the prisons.
Farajallah was detained by Israeli forces near a military checkpoint in Hebron on December 18, 2021, the Palestinian Prisoners Club reported. It further accused Damon prison authorities of medical neglect.
The death of Farajallah, who was the oldest Palestinian female detainee, brings the total of Palestinians who have died in Israeli prisons since 1967 to 230.
Her family revealed that the Israel Prison Service put Farajallah in challenging conditions at the solitary confinement since her arrest eight months ago.
Farajallah attended a court hearing in a wheelchair on June 28, when the prosecution sought a five-year prison sentence and 15,000 shekel ($4,200) fine, the Prisoners Club said. However, the sentence was not issued.
The Israel Prison Service said “the woman who is chronically ill, was regularly treated by IPS medical personnel. She was released from the hospital this week and returned to prison.”
“On Saturday morning, she needed medical attention in the ward. A medic who examined her called an intensive care unit. The medical staff performed resuscitation efforts on her, but her death was determined on the spot,” the IPS reported.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem stated that this crime affirms the racist attitude of the occupation towards the inmates, especially the sick.
