Israel continues to detain wounded Palestinians, including one in intensive care

The Israeli occupation authorities are continuing to detain two Palestinians who were wounded when they were arrested earlier this month, Quds Press reported on Tuesday. One of the detained men, Raed Al-Sawalhi, is in a serious condition in the intensive care unit in Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Centre.

Israeli occupation forces shot Sawalhi in his stomach and thigh at the entrance of Duhaisha Refugee Camp, Bethlehem, on 7 August. The other prisoner, Abdul Aziz Abu Arafa, has been in the orthopaedic department of the same medical centre since he was arrested at the same time; he has a broken leg.

Abu Arafa alleges that the Israeli forces shot at him while he was in front of his house on his way to work. A bullet hit him below the knee. The soldiers then took him to hospital in a military vehicle, not an ambulance. “I have been in handcuffs ever since I arrived in the hospital,” he said.

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A court hearing was held for the two wounded prisoners in absentia. The court decided to extend their detention until next Monday, pending the completion of an official investigation.