Gaza:Palestinian cancer patient Amal al-Rifi, aged 60, was arrested by Israeli occupation forces along with her daughter Yasmin just one day before she was scheduled for her fifth chemotherapy session on October 21. The arrests occurred while they were returning from a medical trip to Egypt.
According to Palestine Info Center, since her arrest, al-Rifi has not been able to continue her cancer treatment and has only received medication for high blood pressure and diabetes during her detention in Israel. The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) have demanded their immediate release, citing the interruption of al-Rifi's cancer treatment as a serious health threat.
The organizations reported that al-Rifi and her daughter were initially detained on October 20, transferred to Ashkelon Prison for interrogation, and then moved to Damon Prison by October 29. Prior to her arrest, al-Rifi had completed four chemotherapy sessions in Egypt, but the detention prevented her from continuing the treatment as scheduled.
Medical samples were taken from al-Rifi at Damon Prison, and she was informed about an approval for treatment. However, her transfer to a hospital is pending further authorization, leaving her chemotherapy on hold and raising concerns about her health.
The Palestinian Commission and PPS warned that delaying essential cancer treatment could lead to severe health complications for al-Rifi. They emphasized that the administrative procedures preventing her access to chemotherapy could have dire consequences, and they hold Israeli authorities responsible for any health deterioration.
The organizations highlighted that al-Rifi and her daughter are the only females from Gaza among 90 Palestinian women detained in Israeli facilities. Their arrest has resulted in prolonged uncertainty. The organizations continue to call for immediate measures to allow al-Rifi to resume her cancer treatment, stressing that effective access to medical care is critical for her survival.