PLO calls for jailed cancer patient's immediate release

JERUSALEM (AA) - Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary-General Saeb Erekat on Thursday called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to release a jailed Palestinian cancer patient.

“The world must pressure Israel, the occupying power, to respond immediately to the request by the PLO’s prisoners committee for the release of Sami Abu Diak, 35, who has been diagnosed with cancer,” Erekat said in a letter sent to both UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

Erekat reportedly sent similar letters to Yousef al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit.

Erekat went on to hold Israel responsible for the life of Abu Diak, a West Bank Palestinian who faces three consecutive life sentences.

Abu Diak, who has already served 18 years behind bars, underwent intestinal surgery in late 2015 at Israel’s Soroka Hospital.

Complications during the procedure, however, resulted in kidney and lung failure.

According to Palestinian figures, more than 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in Israeli prisons, including 25 who reportedly suffer from cancer.