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Death of Longest-Serving Palestinian Prisoner in Israel Ignites Controversy

Walid Daqqa, convicted for involvement in the murder of an Israeli soldier, dies of cancer after 38 years in custody, sparking debate over prisoner rights and humanitarian concerns.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by ALAA BADARNEH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (14423970f) People protest following the death in an Israeli jail of terminally ill Palestinian activist and novelist Walid Daqqa, in the West Bank City of Nablus, 08 April 2024. Walid Daqqa, who spent 39 years in Israeli prisons and had cancer, died on 07 April 2024 in the Israeli Assaf Harofeh Hospital following "years of deliberate medical negligence by the Israeli prison administration", according to a statement by the Detainees and Ex-Detainees' Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS). Protest in Nablus following death of terminally ill Palestinian novelist jailed for 39 years - 08 Apr 2024
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Protesters gather to hold a demonstration demanding the release of Walid Daqqa, a 60-year-old Palestinian prisoner of 37 years who has been diagnosed with cancer, in Bethlehem, West Bank on June 07, 2023. (Photo by Wisam Hashlamoun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Walid Daqqa, a Palestinian convicted of involvement in the killing of an Israeli soldier, died of cancer at 62 after spending 38 years in Israeli custody.
  • Amnesty International mourned Daqqa's death, highlighting it as evidence of Israel's 'disregard for Palestinians' right to life,' while critics accuse the organization of ignoring Daqqa's terrorist activities.
  • Daqqa's death has reignited discussions on the treatment of Palestinian prisoners, with allegations of medical neglect and human rights violations by Israeli authorities.
  • Despite being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2020, Daqqa's appeals for early release on humanitarian grounds were rejected, leading to his death in prison.
  • The incident has sparked polarized reactions, with Daqqa viewed as a symbol of Palestinian struggle by some and as a terrorist by others, including the family of the Israeli soldier he was convicted of killing.