FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
29 April, 2005
Translated from a Press Release from Physicians for Human Rights
Palestinian Detainee Denied the Right to Healthcare and a Fair Trial
On April 27 a hearing was scheduled to take place in the Salem military court in Salem regarding prolonging the
detention of Jaber Dalana.
On Thursday, April 24 Dalana and his wife were on their way home to Kiri village from Al Watani Hospital in Nablus,
where Jaber had been hospitalized for five days due to viral meningitis (inflammation of membranes surrounding the
spinal cord and brain). He was released from the hospital with instructions to go home, continue his medication, rest
completely, and drink plenty of fluids. Instead he was detained for nine hours at Huwara checkpoint and then arrested
without charges. Jaber's lawyer, Mahmoud Hassan, from Adameer, a Palestinian human right's organization who supports
Palestinian prisoners, arrived in Salem in the morning of April 27 for the hearing. Jaber, who is currently being
detained at Haamek Hospital in Afula, was not released from the hospital and could not be present due to his medical
condition.
Attorney Hassan spoke to the military judge but did not manage to receive any information regarding a new date for the
hearing. Throughout the day, Attorney Hassan tried to inquire with the military where the hearing will take place
without success. On April 28, Attorney Hassan was notified that the hearing regarding Jaber's case had taken place the
day before in Salem WITHOUT JABER OR HIS LAWYER BEING PRESENT and that his detention has been prolonged for an
additional 15 days.
When Jaber was initially detained for several hours at Huwarra checkpoint, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) contacted
the humanitarian hotline of the Israeli Defense Forces. Subsequently a military doctor came to examine Jaber at the
checkpoint. When PHR contacted the humanitarian hotline again to inquire about Jaber's condition, they were informed
that he was suffering from an ulcer and was being transferred to the Salem Detention Center. PHR then contacted the
military appointed health coordinator in the West Bank, Dalia Basa, and gave her the information from Jaber's doctor and
the doctor who treated him in Nablus Hospital regarding his meningitis and the necessary treatment.
On Saturday April 23 Jaber was transferred to Haemek Hospital in Afula, where he was diagnosed with meningitis and is
still being treated. Jaber is being held in the hospital with his legs in shackles despite the fact that three soldiers
are guarding him. The different Israeli authorities deny the rights of Palestinians detainees and prisoners regularly.
They do so with the backing of the Israeli Court System.
In this case, Jaber was denied the right for appropriate medical treatment when the military took two days to be
convinced by his doctors and human rights organizations that he was suffering from meningitis.
His rights are also being denied since his legs are shackled in the hospital contrary to the law and the regulations of
the Ministry of Health and the recommendations of the medical association in Israel. Lastly Jaber was denied the right
to a just trial and the right to be represented in court.
Attorney Hassan is appealing the decision to prolong his detention.
At the time of this posting, Jabar had just been transferred from Haemek Hospital back to the Salem Detention Center
For more information Attorney Mahmoud Hassan, Adameer 0546-206-973, 0506-948-107 Anat Litvin, from PHR 0547-322-007