The Israeli military court of Ofer renewed the administrative detention of the cancer-stricken prisoner, Abd al-Basit Maatan, for six additional months for the third consecutive time.
Administrative detention is ordered by the Israeli military commander and grounded on a “secret file.” Under administrative detention policy, a prisoner is held without charge or trial for up to 6 months, which can be renewed.
The court decision came despite the prisoner’s difficult health condition, as he suffers from colon cancer.
The decision is considered a new crime carried out by all Israeli agencies against Maatan in light of his critical health situation.
Maatan, 50, was detained in July last year, only three months after his last release from Israeli jails, despite suffering from cancer.
Maatan’s wife, Zubaida, confirmed that her husband is facing a slow death as the Israeli authorities refuse to provide him with adequate medical care.
She pointed out that her husband was detained twice in just two months, despite suffering from cancer.
She further noted that her husband continues to suffer from different health problems, including sharp weight loss, body weakness, and inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
Maatan underwent several medical surgeries before his previous arrest, during which a large part of the colon was removed. However, the disease continued to spread.
Maatan, a father of four children, spent a total of ten years in Israeli prisons. He holds a master’s degree in democracy and human rights, and was the Director General of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the tenth government.
Maatan is the 24th Palestinian prisoner to suffer from cancer in Israeli jails.
1,132 Palestinians, including 18 children and three women, are currently held under administrative detention in Israeli jails.
