RAMALLAH (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) charged the Israeli occupation authority with full responsibility for the fate of the administrative detainee Hussam Naji Zakarneh, as his health condition has recently deteriorated seriously due to a cancerous tumor in his stomach.
In a press statement on Tuesday, the PPS explained that Zakarneh, 25, from Jenin, has been administratively detained since August 21, 2024, noting that he has been held since his arrest in Megiddo prison, which is one of the worst Israeli prisons, in which many martyrs have died since the genocidal war in Gaza.
The PPS stated that Zakarneh cannot drink water and have food, as he suffers from constant vomiting and severe abdominal pain, which caused him to lose weight sharply to the extent that he is now only 37 kg.
According to the lawyer who recently visited Zakarneh, Hussam was unable to speak and was visibly very tired.
The PPS emphasized that Zakarneh’s case is one of hundreds of cases of sick prisoners in Israeli prisons, noting that the outbreak of diseases among prisoners is today a central issue that has imposed great challenges on the specialized institutions, as they are unable to control the follow-up of sick cases inside prisons, given that the prison administration imposes more policies and measures aimed mainly at killing prisoners.
The PPS also emphasized that Zakarneh is facing a compound crime today, starting with his continued administrative detention (without charges), his ongoing detention in harsh conditions, his exposure to torture and abuse, and his denial to receive follow up medical care.
It pointed out the most prominent health issues suffered by the prisoners include the continued outbreak of scabies, which the occupation prison administration has turned into a tool to torture and kill prisoners, especially in Megiddo and Negev prisons.
The PPS and other human rights organizations had previously warned of a health disaster in Megiddo and Negev prisons in light of the continued outbreak of diseases among prisoners and the committing of more medical crimes against them.
