Health condition of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails need int'l concern: official

Eassa Qaraqea', head of prisoners' affairs department in Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said there are some 800 prisoners who suffer from various sickness, of whom 90 are in critical condition and need urgent medical treatment.

He called on the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene as immediate as possible to rescue their lives.

He expressed deep concerns over their living situation, as "they became half dead and their health situation is deteriorating everyday, but the occupation authorities refuse to release them."

On Oct. 14, one of the sick prisoners died of stroke and brain bleeding in Israeli prison, where he spent nine years. Since 1967, 200 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli prisons.

Since the outbreak of the current wave of violence and tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel has arrested more than 900 Palestinians, some of them being shot and suffering severe injuries.

On Wednesday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said the Israeli army arrested 33 Palestinians during overnight raids on several towns and villages in the West Bank. On Tuesday, 44 Palestinians were arrested.

The PLO Executive Committee Secretary General, Saeb Erekat, told "Voice of Palestine" radio earlier on Wednesday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is doing his best to put an end to Israeli crimes.

"President Abbas will present a file to the International Criminal Court in the Hague related to the Israeli field execution of dozens of Palestinians in the West Bank," Erekat said, adding that Abbas will ask for forming a special committee for investigation.

Since early October, 64 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded in a wave of fierce confrontations and violence between Israel and the Palestinians all over the West Bank.

Meanwhile, ten Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded in a series of stabbing and shooting attacks against Israeli settlers and security forces in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.