ICSPR demands the public prosecution to open a serious investigation into the death of the detainee Ahmed Naji Abu Hamada, nicknamed “Za’bour”.

Ref:  82 /2018

Date:13 August 2018

Press Release,

Following the death of a detainee in Jericho Central Prison
ICSPR demands the public prosecution to open a serious investigation into the death of the detainee Ahmed Naji Abu Hamada, nicknamed “Za’bour”.

The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR), follows with deep concern the death of: Ahmed Nagi Abu Hamada, 26 yr, from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, in the West Bank, who has been held in Jericho Central Prison since March 2017, and was accused of shooting at members of the security services during a security operation in Balata refugee camp. The Palestinian Authority said that it intended to arrest wanted persons, which resulted in the death of one of the officers and the arrest of the victim after he was wounded, he was hospitalized for treatment, and then imprisoned at Jericho prison, due to health deteriorated, he was taken to hospital again for treatment in late July 2018.
Ahmed was declared dead on 12 August 2018, two weeks later, he suffered a stroke while he was in Jericho Central Prison, according to the governor of Nablus.

The family of the victim published a press release, in which the Authority and its security services took full responsibility for the life of their son and the consequences of his death following the detention conditions in Jericho prison.
The family pointed out that the security services poisoned its son through drinking water, and that the hospital refused to hand over the family a medical report clearly identifies his health and the cause of the deterioration of his condition, and they were prevented from visiting the hospital, and they only saw him from behind the glass before he died.

The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) expresses its deep regret for the death of a citizen in detention, and stresses that the safety of detainees is an integral part of the responsibilities and duties of law enforcement officials, The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) demands the following:
• ICSPR considers that every death in the detention centers is a death impose the duty of criminal investigation in its causes, and that invoking the sudden illness of the detainee does not relieve the competent authorities from their legal responsibilities.
• ICSPR calls on the Attorney General in the West Bank to open a serious and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the death of the detainee, “Ahmed Abu Hamada”, and announce the results in public, to hold accountable all those involved to ensure the achievement of deterrence.
• ICSPR calls on law enforcers to comply with the provisions of the Reform and Rehabilitation Centers Law No. 6 of 1998.

Regards