Apparently, chains became the daily companion of the Palestinian political prisoners, even when hospitalized and in need to surgery. Wajeeh Qawwas, mayor of Qalqilia who was elected while he was still in custody tell Palestine News Network (PNN) the story of one of the detainee who was transferred to Shaare Zedek Israeli hospital, suffering from a heart disease;
“Detainee Maher Awwad, from Silwad near Jerusalem, is suffering from a heart disease, he was transferred to Shaare Zedek hospital for treatment, after being there for a while he asked one of the soldiers who wee on guard to allow him to take a shower”, Qawwas stated, “The soldiers agreed but on the condition that he remains handcuffed, Maher refused this request because no one can shower while his hands and legs are tied”.
After a long discussion and quarrel, one of the soldiers agreed to untie Qawwas under the condition that he only has five minutes to shower. Qawwas, not provided with any other choice, agreed to this condition.
“Apparently, sickness is not an excuse to have my chains removed”, he added, “While in hospital, they always kept me tied in spite of my bad health condition and sickness”.
Also, Palestinian Minister of Detainees, Wasfi Kabha, told the PNN that when he was imprisoned in Israel he was operated three times; once for hernia, once in his liver, and one when they removed his gall bladder.
“One of the soldiers entered the operation room, he was wearing the white gown used by the doctors, and yet carrying his gun”, Kabha stated, “The occupation does not let the detainee be until they utter their last breath and die, and even then, only a decision by an Israeli judge can free the body”.
