Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 10:05 Click here, Tragedy in Ayalon Prison: Gur Hamel died after being denied medical care, for Honenu’s first report of Hamel’s death.
Member of Knesset Mossi Raz (Meretz) posted a reaction on his Twitter account to the horrific recording (see below) of a conversation between Gur Hamel, z”l, and a representative of Honenu approximately 11 hours before his death in an Ayalon Prison cell. In the recording, Hamel screams in excruciating pain and complains that the Prison Service is not granting him medical treatment: “I’m dying of pain. I’m doubled over in pain. … Get somebody here. Call the Ayalon Prison. … They’re not treating me.”
MK Raz (translation by Honenu): “All prisoners, including murderers like Gur Hamel, deserve proper medical treatment and basic rights. The Prison Service is tasked with protecting their lives. This time, they failed. One must not accept this reality. I am waiting for the prompt results of a thorough and comprehensive investigation of the incident.”
In light of the conversation, Honenu Attorney Adi Keidar, who represented Hamel, immediately wrote a letter to the Ayalon Prison, demanding that the prisoner receive urgent medical treatment. That evening, Keidar was informed by the prison authorities that Hamel had received treatment, and that there was nothing unusual about his condition. The following morning, before Keidar was informed of Hamel’s death, he sent another letter to the Ayalon Prison authorities, demanding that the prisoner be evacuated to the hospital for life-saving medical treatment. Two hours later, Keidar was notified that Hamel had been found dead in his cell early in the morning.
Honenu Attorney Adi Keidar: “The writing was on the wall. For months, weeks, and all the more so just yesterday, we repeatedly sent letters demanding an examination of his medical condition. None of our letters received proper attention, and so we reached this sad situation. We will not be silent until the matter is completely clarified.”
The audio recording. WARNING: Hamel’s distressed screams are distinctly heard.