European doctors denied access to Palestinians in Israeli prisons

[ 06/02/2011 - 01:08 PM ]

WEST BANK, (PIC)-- Israeli prison authorities have blocked European medical experts from carrying out inspections on several Palestinians prisoners. The Palestinian prisoner committee said in a statement on Saturday that it requested permission from Israeli authorities for a board of specialists to conduct tests on Hamas leader Jamal Abul-Haija, Ahmed Saadat from the PLFP, Haitham Salihiyya and Zamil Shalouf, who have been diagnosed with various ailments so far untreated by the Israeli prison system. Abul-Haija has been sentenced to nine life terms in solitary confinement in addition to 80 years. One of his hands was amputated after he was shot in a clash with Israeli forces. He has received no medical attention since his arrest. Ahmed Saadat, a senior official in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, suffers pain in the neck and high blood pressure, but has not received treatment since his placement in isolation in 2009. Zamil Shalouf, a 15-year prisoner from Beit Hanoun, has complained of pain from a device Israeli doctors planted in his body in 2008. The prison administration has yet to provide information on the device's nature. Some prisoners reportedly have rejected test results taken by Israel. The prison administration has banned entry of the medical team because of what it has called security risks.