Ref: 156/2012
Date: 27 December 2012
Time: 13:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the General Attorney in Gaza to open a serious and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the death of the detainee Atef Khamis Derbas, 52, a resident of Jabalya in the Gaza Strip, and to publish the results of the investigation publicly. Atef died earlier in the morning today in Ansar Central prison in west of Gaza City, where he was being held as a detainee. It should be noted that the detaining authorities were aware that Atef was suffering from ailments in the heart and chest.

According to information given by Atef’s family to PCHR, at approximately 09:00 hours on Thursday, 27th December 2012, the Ministry of Interior and National Security informed them of his death and that his body was transported to Shifa Hospital in the Gaza City. Shawki Derbas, brother of the deceased, told a PCHR fieldworker, that Atef was arrested 3 months ago by the Palestinian Police on the grounds of financial obligations (reimbursing checks), and was detained in Jabalya police station. He was later transferred to Ansar Central prison. Shawki added Atef suffered from an arterial blockage in the heart; bronchial asthma; and hypertension, and his family had informed the police about his medical condition. According to medical sources in the forensic medicine department in Shifa Hospital, Atef died due the ailments in his heart and chest.

In view of the above, PCHR:

1- Calls upon the General Attorney and the Ministry of Interior to immediately open a serious investigation into the circumstances of the death of Atef Khamis Derbas, particularly in suspicions of medical negligence, and to publish the results of the investigation publicly.
2- Emphasizes that the Palestinian Authority is responsible for the life of all the prisoners and detainees being held in its prisons; thus, it is responsible for protecting their dignity, as well as providing adequate medical care for them, in accordance with Reform and Rehabilitation Centers Law of 1998.
3- Stresses that the family of the detained has the right to claim for compensation if negligence by the police to protect their son’s life is proven judicially.