The CDA said that the cancer patient and prisoner Hussein Msalma, 38 from Al-Khader in Bethlehem, is in a critical condition at Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Al-Sabi’. The prisoner was released after his health condition had deteriorated but he is still in the hospital.

Hassan Abd Rabbu, official in the CDA, said that the Commission along with the Ministry of Health are following up with the prisoner’s condition and are seeking to admit him to a Palestinian hospital where treatment is available.

Abd Rabbu said that the prisoner’s health condition is critical as he is in a partial coma and suffers from severe pain.

He added, “He has been suffering from severe pain in the stomach, but the prison’s administration paid no attention to him and stalled his admission to a hospital to diagnose his case and offer him treatment. He was found later to suffer from Leukemia and started chemo-therapy. A month ago, his condition got worse”.

Prisoner Hussein Masalma has been arrested since 2002 and was sentenced 20 years.