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Another Palestinian prisoner has died in an Israeli prison. Walid Dakka, 62, who was imprisoned in an Israeli prison for 38 years, died under suspicious circumstances at Shamir Medical Center near Tel Aviv. According to Israeli officials, his death was caused by cancer, which he had been diagnosed with in December 2022 and he also had leukemia.
Dakka was accused of belonging to a group that had killed an Israeli soldier. Dakka was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of an Israeli soldier in 1984, and served time in prison.
Initially, Dakka was sentenced to life imprisonment, which was later reduced to 37 years. But in 2018, the sentence was extended by two more years, he was to be released in March 2025. But he died before that.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club, an association of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, said Dakka's appeal for medical parole had been rejected. However, the Palestinian side has made several other allegations regarding his death.
The commission advocating for Palestinian prisoners alleged that Dakka's death was the result of Israel's 'slow killing' policy. According to the commission, he was not given treatment by the jail administration nor was he given medical parole. Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is in charge of the Israel Prison Service, wrote in a social media post, “Israel does not regret the death of a terrorist.” He further said that his death was normal and was not part of any punishment.
Protests have been seen in Palestinian cities after Dakka's death under suspicious circumstances. Palestinian news agency Wafa described Dakka as a “freedom fighter.” Whereas Hamas reacted and blamed the Israeli administration for his death.