Palestinian prisoner Walid Daqqa passed away at Shamir Medical Center after spending 38 years in an Israeli prison, as reported by the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society. Daqqa held the record for being the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jails, according to Amnesty International. The organization has urged Israeli authorities to release Daqqa's body to his family for a dignified burial.
Daqqa, a renowned author, wrote about his prison experiences and the challenges faced by detainees. His writings were seen as a form of resistance against the dehumanization of Palestinian prisoners, as highlighted by Addameer, a Palestinian prisoner rights advocacy organization.
Israeli police were involved in an incident at a mourning tent set up by Daqqa's family in Baqa al-Gharbiyye. The police stated that they intervened as the gathering took place despite being denied permission. Five individuals were arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement personnel during the incident.
Daqqa was arrested in 1986 and sentenced to life imprisonment for his alleged involvement in commanding an armed group that abducted and killed an Israeli soldier. Amnesty International noted that Daqqa denied the accusations of commanding the group. Despite calls from human rights organizations for his release due to deteriorating health conditions, Daqqa remained incarcerated. He was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a rare form of bone marrow cancer, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease in 2022, according to Addameer and Amnesty.
