Israel Blocks Former Palestinian Detainee’s Entry to Jordan for Cancer Treatment.

Israel: The Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) have reported that Israeli authorities have barred former Palestinian detainee Ismail Taqatqa, 40, from entering Jordan to continue his leukemia treatment. This decision has sparked condemnation from the organizations, which view it as an extension of the occupation's systematic actions that jeopardize Taqatqa's life. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the joint statement from the organizations criticized the Israeli authorities for previously denying Taqatqa entry into areas within the 1948-occupied territories for treatment, citing security concerns. The statement accused the authorities of committing a medical crime by subjecting Taqatqa to harsh conditions despite his deteriorating health during imprisonment. Taqatqa's ordeal began with his detention in March, where he spent five months under severe conditions. Despite his declining health, he was held in Ofer prison, leading to a significant worsening of his condition. He was eventually transferred to Hadassah Hospital in critical condition and released under restrictive conditions. A week post-release, Taqatqa's leukemia diagnosis led to his admission to An-Najah National University Hospital in Nablus. The statement highlighted that Taqatqa, a resident of Beit Fajjar in Bethlehem, had been in good health before his detention. His sudden health issues during detention and subsequent diagnosis exemplify the medical neglect faced by many Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. This neglect, according to the statement, has resulted in numerous deaths and chronic illnesses among detainees since the onset of Israeli aggression on October 7, 2023. The Commission and PPS further noted that a considerable number of recently released detainees required immediate hospitalization due to health issues developed during their imprisonment. Post-release medical examinations frequently reveal chronic illnesses or persistent health problems, und erscoring the severe conditions endured by detainees under Israeli custody.