Imprisoned Palestinian novelist and activist Walid Daqqa, who was affected by most cancers, has died in Israel’s Shamir Medical Heart, in line with the Palestinian Fee of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs.
Daqqa was from Baqa al-Gharbiyye, a predominantly Palestinian metropolis in Israel, and had served for 38 years in Israeli prisons, the fee added, earlier than saying that he had died on account of a “gradual killing” coverage carried out towards unwell prisoners by the Israeli jail administration.
Protesters have gathered in Ramallah in reminiscence of one of the crucial outstanding Palestinian prisoners, who was because of be launched subsequent 12 months.
The Palestinian state information company Wafa described Daqqa as a “freedom fighter”, whereas Hamas mentioned that it was renewing its “covenant with the prisoners till they acquire freedom”, following the information of his demise.
In a press release, Hamas famous how Daqqa’s demise “happened within the occupation prisons”.
Israel’s far-right Minister of Nationwide Safety Itamar Ben-Gvir – who’s answerable for the Israel Jail Service – mentioned that Israel was “not crying” over the demise of Daqaa, who he known as a “terrorist”.
In a social media put up, he mentioned that Daqqa’s life had ended naturally and that it was not part of the “demise penalty for terrorists” because it was “purported to” be.
לא בוכה הלילה על מותו של אסיר העולם – המחבל ווליד דקה ימ”ש. לצערי, ווליד דקה סיים את חייו במוות טבעי, ולא כמו תפיסתי לפיה דקה היה אמור לסיים את חייו במסגרת עונש מוות למחבלים.
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) April 7, 2024
Poor remedy of prisoners
Daqqa is likely one of the most outstanding and longtime Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. He was arrested by Israel in 1986 for killing an Israeli soldier and has remained in jail since then. Whereas in jail, he wrote a number of books, together with a youngsters’s story.
In 1999, he additionally acquired married whereas behind bars. Alongside along with his spouse, Sana Salameh, he welcomed a daughter – Milad – in 2020, conceived after his sperm was smuggled out of jail.
“The Israeli officers contained in the jail advised him they’d not permit him to have a toddler, however he gained by having Milad,” his spouse advised Al Jazeera.
A 12 months later Daqqa was identified with myelofibrosis – a uncommon type of bone marrow most cancers that disrupts the physique’s regular manufacturing of blood cells. Rights teams started pressuring Israel to launch him on medical grounds.
Final 12 months, Addameer, a rights group that helps Palestinian prisoners, mentioned that Daqqa was in “dire want of pressing medical consideration”, accused Israeli authorities of denying him the remedy he was prescribed, and known as for his “speedy launch”.
However Israel refused to free him from jail early, setting his launch date for 2025.
Israeli jail authorities often delay checkups and pressing surgical procedures for Palestinian prisoners for years, in line with prisoner teams.
Specialised docs will not be often out there, apart from dentists, and “over-the-counter painkillers are administered as a treatment for nearly all well being issues”, rights teams mentioned in a joint report to the United Nations.
Not less than 10 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons for the reason that Israel-Hamas conflict started on October 7, in line with Wafa. However a Haaretz investigation mentioned that the quantity was really at the least 27.
Earlier than that, in 2020, 4 Palestinian prisoners died in Israeli custody; and in November 2021, Palestinian prisoner Sami Umour, 39, died after a months-long delay of an urgently wanted operation for severe coronary heart issues from which he suffered.
The delay in deciding the case of Daqqa and different sick prisoners was described by Qadura Fares, the director of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, the principle Palestinian prisoner rights NGO, as a coverage of “gradual, systematic killing”.
On Sunday, after the information about Daqqa’s demise was introduced by Israel, tributes poured in on social media in reminiscence of him and his work.
“He was among the many most outstanding prisoner intellectuals, with a number of works to his title, notably ‘Melting the Consciousness,’ ‘Parallel Time,’ and the novel ‘The Secret of the Oil Story,’ which obtained native and Arab awards,” Lema, a diplomat on the Palestine Mission to the European Union, mentioned in a put up on X.
“Daqqa leaves behind a legacy as a Palestinian hero,” she mentioned.
Walid Daqqa,🇵🇸 prisoner battling most cancers,has died in an Israeli Hosp. Regardless of worldwide & Palestinian requires his launch because of extreme medical neglect in jail, he remained detained till his demise. Daqqa leaves behind a legacy as a 🇵🇸 hero, survived by his spouse & daughter pic.twitter.com/liBBnFBVtM
— Lema (@Lemapal) April 7, 2024