Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) holds Israeli occupation forces responsible for the life of Palestinian prisoner, Kamal Abu Waar, 46, who suffers from throat cancer and is detained in Gilboa Prison, and who recently tested positive for COVID-19.
AOHR UK reports that Israeli occupation authorities announced, Abu Waar had become infected with Coronavirus on Friday, July 11th and was two days later transferred to Assaf Harofeh Hospital to undergo several tests, including a coronavirus test which proved positive. However, it has been revealed that he was already showing symptoms 10 days prior to this and that authorities failed to isolate him in accordance with international health measures, instead, transferring him to Ramle Prison.
AOHR UK says Abu Waar’s infection illustrates the inefficiency of health care inside Israeli detention facilities and warns of the threat of spreading among other detainees, especially those at high risk with underlying health conditions.
AOHR UK stress that Coronavirus is particularly acute inside Israeli detention centres, especially so since health care is very poor due to grave medical negligence on the part of Israeli occupation authorities.
AOHR UK calls on the UN General Assembly and relevant international organisations to put pressure on Israeli occupation authorities to protect the lives of detainees in Israeli prisons from COVID-19, by implementing recommendations of the World Health Organization to reduce the number of detainees to a minimum, release sick detainees and the elderly, and to ensure that all detainees have access to excellent health care.
