PRESS RELEASE

Released @ 8.00 hours GMT 15 July 1998

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Demands the Immediate Release of Ailing Prisoner, Jamal Al-Khamisi

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) protests the continued detention of Jamal Hassan Al-Khamisi, resident of Maghazi, Gaza Strip, who has being detained since September, 1989 and is sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in Israel. PCHR demands the immediate release of Al-Khamisi due to his very critical health condition; he is suffering from cancer of the liver and, according to his doctor, is expected to live for just 4 more months.

Two months ago, Al-Khamisi was transferred from the central prison, Abu Kabir, in Tel Aviv, to the hospital of Ramli prison, after he was diagnosed with cancer. PCHR demands the immediate release of Al-Khamisi with Israeli guarantees to provide him with proper medical treatment and freedom of movement to receive medical treatment in Israeli hospitals. Furthermore, PCHR holds the Israeli prison administration responsible for the deterioration of Khamisi’s health due to their negligence in detecting his condition earlier. This situation is reminiscent of the case of Youssef Al-Arear, who died on June 21, 1998 at Ramli prison hospital in circumstances also resulting from medical negligence.