Urgent Appeal for Palestinian Prisoner Ayman Al-Haj Yahya Facing Imminent Death in Naqab Desert Prison

In a chilling and desperate plea, Palestinian prisoners in Naqab Desert Prison have called on human rights organizations, international bodies, and all people of conscience to intervene on behalf of prisoner Ayman Al-Haj Yahya. Ayman, who is currently held in Section 25, Room 10, is facing an imminent death due to severe medical neglect. His condition has deteriorated drastically, and according to the Prisoners Media Office, he is now living his final days behind bars.

Ayman, a resident of the Palestinian city of Taybe, has been incarcerated for nearly two years, serving a six-year sentence. He suffers from the devastating aftermath of a stroke he experienced in prison, which has left him paralyzed with complete loss of sensation in his limbs. Additionally, his vision has severely weakened, with one of his eyes turning white. The prison’s administration has shown no urgency in addressing his critical health needs, leading to the current life-threatening situation.

Prisoners who share his cell have reported their attempts to have Ayman transferred for urgent medical care. However, the prison authorities have refused to act, even as his health continues to decline. During a recent attempt to seek treatment, the prisoners managed to move Ayman out of his cell during "recreation time" and placed him near the prison's door in an effort to pressure the authorities into responding. Their efforts were ignored, and a pharmacist who came to examine Ayman declared that he was "fine," despite the fact that Ayman had lost his memory and his ability to move or communicate.

The treatment Ayman received was nothing short of humiliating. His hands and feet were shackled, and he was lifted painfully by the cuffs, placed on a poor-quality iron bed, and transferred to the prison clinic. Hours later, he was returned to his cell in a wheelchair, leaving his fellow prisoners in shock at his deteriorating condition. When they refused to let him back in due to his severe state, the prison authorities took him away again, leaving his fate unknown. His fellow prisoners have no idea where he has been taken or whether he is receiving the necessary medical care.

In an emotional appeal, Ayman’s fellow prisoners have urgently called on Palestinian prisoner organizations, human rights groups, and Palestinian factions to intervene and ensure that Ayman receives the medical treatment he desperately needs. Ayman himself, in a heart-wrenching message, urges his freed brothers and supporters to not forget the plight of prisoners left behind in Israeli jails. "Raise their voices high, for we are dying in the prisons," he implores, as his life hangs in the balance.

The case of Ayman Al-Haj Yahya highlights the ongoing and systematic medical neglect faced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The international community must act swiftly to prevent another needless death in custody and hold the authorities accountable for their disregard for human life.