'Israel' delays Manasra's trial despite deteriorating health condition
An Israeli court dismisses once again a motion of reconsideration into Ahmad Manasra's detention as his health condition deteriorates by the minute.
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Sham Manasra holds a portrait of her older brother Ahmad Manasra, who has been imprisoned by 'Israel' since he was 13, in their family home in Occupied al-Quds, Occupied Palestine Nov. 8, 2022 (AP)
The Israeli court in "Ramla" Prison decided to postpone the trial to rule on ending the solitary confinement of Palestinian Prisoner Ahmad Manasra despite his deteriorating health condition, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said Wednesday.
Manasra's health condition is exacerbated compared to the past few months, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said. Zabarqa underlined that Ahmad's health and psychological condition is deteriorating by the day.
The session that saw the postponement of the ruling of reconsideration was attended by Manasra's lawyers, his family, and doctors working with humanitarian organizations, as well as the representatives of foreign consulates and embassies, lawyer Khaled Zabarqa said, according to the PPC.
At the beginning of the session, the defense was told Manasra could not attend in person, but after much insistence from the defense, he was summoned to court.
Manasra has been in solitary confinement since October 2021, despite his grave health and psychological condition. There have been several trials since, with the majority of sessions aimed at looking into the classification of his case as one of terrorism, which postponed any efforts for early release.
As a result of his psychological state, an international campaign was launched in support of the Palestinian prisoner to demand his release, with the participation of many psychologists and international institutions.
Who is Ahmad Manasra?
Born on January 22, 2002, in Occupied al-Quds, Ahmad Manasra is one of a family of ten.
With the beginning of the popular uprising in 2015, arrests against children in Occupied al-Quds escalated and were accompanied by systematic abuse and torture.
On October 12, 2015, Ahmad and his cousin Hassan - who was martyred on that day - were subjected to brutal abuse by Israeli occupation forces and settlers.
This day marked a turning point in Ahmad's life. As a result of his arrest, interrogation, and physical and psychological torture, even while receiving treatment in the hospital, he suffered from a fractured skull and serious health conditions.
After several sessions, the Israeli occupation court issued a verdict of 12 years in prison against Ahmad and compensation of 180,000 shekels. The sentence was reduced to nine and a half years in 2017.
Before his transfer to prison, the Israeli occupation authorities held Ahmad for two years in a special institution for juveniles under difficult and harsh conditions and later transferred him to "Megiddo" Prison when he was 14 years old.
