Palestinian With Meningitis Arrested

21 April 2005

Call For Action

Palestinian With Meningitis Arrested

On Thursday, April 21, at 10:00 pm, 30-year-old Jaber Dalny was arrested at Huwara checkpoint after being held for 9.5 hours. He had been in the hospital in Nablus for 5 days, and had been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. He was on his way home and his medical condition was stable, but his wife, who was with him, reported that he became delirious and weak after sitting in the sun for so many hours at the checkpoint.

Jaber was taken to Salem, where he was seen by a doctor who diagnosed him with an ulcer and determined that his "medical condition does not bar arrest." Within the past day, other army doctors have reported that he has "sensitivity in the chest area" and "a heart problem." After being pushed, a DCO representative finally admitted that he has bacterial meningitis. The family fears he is being interrogated and not being given his proper medication. They do not know why he was arrested.

Jaber has three young children and his wife is pregnant with their fourth. Jaber's younger sister Samiya writes, "No one can describe this case... I ask all the humanitarian activists and all of the peace activists and Red Cross and the International Red Cross and human rights organizations to intervene to release this person."

Please Call The Israeli Army

Please call the Israeli army to demand that Jaber be given proper medical care and that his family be notified about the reasons for his arrest and how long he will be held. The family also requests that people do everything in their power to make sure Jaber is immediately and safely released.

Israeli Army phone numbers: DCO in Jenin: 04-640-7312 or 04-617-9207 DCO "Humanitarian Office": 02-997-7733

ENDS