Palestinian Minister of Detainee, Issa Qaraqe’, issued a press release stating that four Palestinian detainees at the Ofer Israeli detention facility were diagnosed with swine-flu, and that they contracted virus from Israeli soldiers and jailors.
Qaraqe’ added that the ministry sent a letter to the Israeli Prison Administration holding it responsible for the lives of the detainees, especially since they do not receive proper medical attention.
He added that the ministry demanded the administration to transfer the infected detainees to a hospital instead of keeping them in solitary confinement.
“The detainees should be hospitalized”, Qaraqe’ said, “We are concerned that the infection would spread among the detainees”.
The Israeli Prison Authorities tried to impose a gag order on the issue, and refused to cooperate with the ministry and the Red Cross.
Last Monday, several detainees complained from high fever and diarrhea, but did not receive adequate medical attention.
Representative of the detainees, Shadi Shalalda, told Qaraqe’ that the detainees are recovering, and that no one is in a serious condition.
Palestinian prisoners get H1N1 in Zionist facilities
Al Qassam Website/agencies - Palestinians in Zionist entity's "Ofer detention center" were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus after falling ill Monday, Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Affairs Issa Qaraqi said Friday, saying the men caught the bug from other inmates and wardens.
“We have sent a message to Zionist prison services holding them accountable for the prisoners’ lives and demanding they take the patients to special hospitals instead of keeping them in isolation cells,” Qaraqi said.
Zionist prison services and medics at the jail have concealed details about these patients for the past week, he said, and have refused to cooperate with his ministry and the Red Cross.
The Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners Afffairs requested Ofer be closed, and all infected wardens and soldiers spreading the virus be moved out of the facility. A letter also asked for permission to allow Palestinian doctors to visit prisoners and check up on them.
At the same time, however, the ministry has been assured by a prisoners representative at Ofer, Shadi Shalalda, that the patients were not in danger and were recovering.
