Riots following death of terrorist

Autopsy reveals: Palestinian prisoner died of cancer complications

Findings of Abu Kabir Institute for Forensic Medicine reveal that cancer with metastasis throughout the body was behind death of Palestinian terrorist Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh who died on Tuesday

Ynet reporters|Published: 04.03.13 , 17:08

A malignant tumor in the vocal chords with metastasis in the lungs, neck, chest, liver, spine and ribs – those were the findings Wednesday of the autopsy on the body of Palestinian terrorist Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh who died on Tuesday at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.

In accordance with autopsy findings - carried out at the Abu Kabir Institute for Forensic Medicine - the Health ministry reported that the findings reveal that the cause of death was complications due to an existing condition of cancer there was no evidence of bruising.

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Upon the completion of the Israeli autopsy Abu Hamdiyeh's body was transferred to the forensic institute at Abu Dis – where an additional examination will be carried out by Palestinian and international pathologists. The body will then be transferred to a Hebron hospital where Abu Hamdiyeh's funeral will take place on Thursday.

On Tuesday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the death of the terminally ill security prisoner.

"The Palestinian presidency holds the government of Netanyahu responsible for the martyrdom of prisoner Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh today in the prisons of the Israeli occupation," Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said in a statement.

Abu Hamdiyeh, 64, was a Hamas member who recruited the terrorist who planned to carry out an attack on a Jerusalem coffee shop in 2002. That same year, he was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of attempted murder, membership in a terror organization and possession of weapons.

Following his death, Palestinian prisoners began to riot in a number of Israeli prisons, including Ramon, Ketziot, Eshel and Nafha. Abu Hamdiyeh was an inmate at Eshel Prison, which is located in Beersheba.

The Palestinian prisoners banged on cell doors and threw objects. In response, the Israel Prison Service sent extra guards to the jails.

Six guards and three prisoners suffered smoke inhalation during the riots in Ramon Prison. Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians were throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at IDF forces at a number of locations in the West Bank city of Hebron.

The IPS confirmed Abu Hamdiyeh's death, saying it had previously begun a process for his early release due to his deteriorating condition.