Thursday, January 14, 2010

Detainee loses eye; Hamas demands investigation

Gaza/Jenin – Ma’an – A Palestinian detainee was severely injured after being attacked at an Israeli detention centre, Salem, near Jenin in the northern West Bank, Hamas said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement, issued by Hamas' detainees' committee said Huthayfa Zyara, from Nablus, lost an eye after he was beaten by an Israeli intelligence officer.

The committee appealed to international human rights groups to intervene promptly to guarantee Zyara's safety, as well as other detainees, from beatings during investigations.

On Wednesday, the de facto government's Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs called on international rights groups to demand the release of unwell detainee Nasim Khatab, who is in deteriorating health, a statement said.

Khatab was detained in 2003 and sentenced to 12 years. Before his detention, he was injured during an Israeli raid where he lost a leg and has suffered from colon complications, the statement said, adding that Khatab has had four surgeries in the Ash-Shifa hospital in Gaza, but his condition remains serious.

Khatab was detained while en route to Egypt to undergo treatment. The Ministry has called for his release and to hold the Israeli Prison Administration responsible for his worsening health, the statement concluded.