Israeli war minister Benny Gantz has decided not to return to the Palestinians the body of martyr Nasser Abu Hamid the prisoner who died of cancer on Tuesday at Assaf Harofeh Hospital after his exposure to long months of medical neglect.
In his statement on Wednesday Gantz said his decision not to return Abu Hamid’s body was made on the recommendation of security officials and in accordance with the cabinet’s decision on the policy of holding Palestinian bodies in order to swap them for Israeli captives in the future.
Cancer-stricken Nasser Abu Hamid 50 was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning after battling cancer for long months in Israeli detention.
Last year the prisoner suffered from a serious health problem in his lungs but the Israeli prison service delayed his transfer to the hospital and neglected his suffering for long months before deciding to take him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with cancer.
A general strike was declared and processions were held yesterday across the West Bank in mourning for Abu Hamid’s death.
