20 Injured as Palestinian Prisoners Protest Death of Inmate
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Twenty Palestinian prisoners were injured after Israeli forces suppressed a protest following the death of inmate Hassan Turabi, who died Tuesday morning at Afula Medical Center.
Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails declared a day of mourning for Turabi and sent back meals provided by the Israeli Prison Service, the PA Ministry of Prisoners said.
Prisoners also refused to take daily breaks in the prison yard.
Israeli prison guards attacked detainees in Megiddo prison who were protesting Turabi's death, injuring at least 20 detainees, the PA Ministry of Prisoners said.
Detainees being held in Nafta jail launched a two-day hunger strike in response to the death, while lawyers who work for the PA Ministry of Prisoners boycotted Israeli courts in protest against Israel's "systematic" medical negligence, Ma’an News Agency reported.
The PLO on Tuesday released a statement calling for an international investigation into the conditions of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Turabi died after suffering from leukemia and had been transferred from Megiddo prison to Afula Medical Center for medical treatment.
PA minister of prisoners' affairs Issa Qaraqe said Israel's Prison Service was responsible for the death of Turabi and accused them of "negligence."
Qaraqe said that the negligence had started at Megiddo prison and ten days before Turabi was transferred to Afula hospital he had severe bleeding and started to vomit blood.
"Prison medics treated the case recklessly and did not give him any medicine until he collapsed and lost consciousness on March 16, 2013."
Turabi's body arrived at Rafedia Hospital in Nablus to be transferred to the village of Sarra where a funeral procession will take place following afternoon prayers.
Turabi's death brings the death toll among Palestinian prisoners in Israel's custody to 205 since 1967, Qaraqe said.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
