Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas said on Monday that spike in coronavirus cases among Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons reiterates deliberate medical negligence as part of systemic policy targeting them.

In a press release, Hamas Spokesperson Hazem Qasim stated that the Israeli prison services’ failure to provide Palestinian detainees with hygiene and medical supplies is an “extension of a deliberate medical negligence against the Palestinian prisoners” which has resulted in the death of hundreds of them.

Qasim held the Israeli prison services and the Israeli occupation government full responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of Palestinian detainees.

Hamas spokesman called on international human rights groups to seriously act and pressure the Israeli occupation to end its medical neglect policy against the Palestinian prisoners.

Qasim reiterated that the issue of Palestinian detainees would remain a top priority for his movement.