Palestinian prisoners declare hunger strike after inmate dies of cancer in hospital

Clashes erupt in Hebron following death of 64-year-old Maysara Abuhamdieh; President Abbas says Israel responsible for deterioration of his health; Netanyahu’s office: In PA prisons, inmates receive no medical attention.

Maysara Abuhamdieh, a 64-year-old security prisoner from Hebron, died Tuesday morning at Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva. Following his death, Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in Hebron, while security detainees in Israeli prisoners announced a three-day hunger strike. Security was beefed up in prisons in case of further unrest.

Abuhamdieh was serving a life sentence, issued in 2002, for attempted murder, membership in Hamas and weapons possession.

After being diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus in February, Abuhamdieh was under the medical care of the Be’er Sheva. A week ago, after his condition was judged to be terminal, the Israel Prisons Service initiated an early release request for Abuhamdieh, who died before for the request could be processed.

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