Palestinian Prisoner's Cancer Death Sparks Protests in Gaza, West Bank
Palestinians protested across the Gaza Strip over the death of Maysara Abu Hamdieh from untreated cancer in Israeli custody, demanding a response from leaders in Ramallah and Gaza, reports Mohammed Suliman.
The death of Palestinian prisoner Maysara Abu Hamdieh, 64, in the Israeli prison of Eshel on the morning of Tuesday, April 2, sparked unrest and large-scale protests in cities across the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Abu Hamdieh, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2002, died of esophageal cancer, which spread to his neck and spinal cord and which, according to his lawyer, led to the loss of his voice and a considerable weight loss. Abu Hamdieh died three days after being transferred to Soroka hospital in Beer Sheva.
Cities in the West Bank, specifically Hebron, Abu Hamdieh’s hometown, witnessed intense clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers. In the Gaza Strip, several Palestinian factions participated in large evening rallies called for by the ruling Islamist party Hamas.
Angry protesters chanted against the Israeli occupation and called on Palestinian militant factions to forcefully respond to Israel’s crimes against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The Guardian reported that other Palestinian security prisoners launched a three-day hunger strike over the death of Abu Hamdieh.
