Gaza holds stand calling for medical care for Israa Al-Jaabis

Israa has been subjected to deliberate medical neglect while in detention

Gaza holds stand calling for medical care for Israa Al-Jaabis [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians in Gaza held an event in solidarity with jailed mother Israa Al-Jaabis who is being held in the occupation’s jails in spite of suffering severe burns which need medical attention.

Israa has been subjected to deliberate medical neglect while in detention, with protesters highlighting her plight outside the Red Cross office in Gaza, and calling for rights groups to stand with her.

Palestinians launched a social media campaign last week in an effort to increase calls for Israa’s release so she can access the necessary medical treatment.

On October 10, 2015, then 30-year-old Jaabis was moving furniture in her car to her home in the Jabal Al-Mukaber neighbourhood in Jerusalem when, 500 metres from the Al-Zayyim checkpoint in Jerusalem, she lost control of the vehicle.

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A gas canister she was transporting then exploded causing her severe burns. She was arrested and accused of attempting to murder Israeli occupation forces.

She suffers from first and third-degree burns on 60 per cent of her body and is dependent on a fellow prisoner to assist her with simple tasks and eight of her fingers were amputated as they had melted to stubs from the burns.

She is now unable to raise her arms fully as a result of her injuries healing incorrectly. Speaking of her injuries, Israa has said: “I feel scared when I look at my face in the mirror, so imagine what others must feel when they look at me.”

Gaza holds stand calling for medical care for Israa Al-Jaabis [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

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