Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem has held the Israeli occupation responsible for the wellbeing and safety of Palestinian detainees in its jails amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Qasem’s remarks came after a Palestinian detainee released from Israeli prisons on Tuesday evening tested positive for coronavirus.

Amid an increase in COVID-19 infections among Israeli prison guards, Qasem, in a press release on Wednesday evening, called on all international organisations and human rights groups to immediately act to ensure the safety of the Palestinian detainees as the Israeli occupation failed to take precautionary measures to protect the Palestinians held in its jails against the coronavirus epidemic.