
Palestine’s first Olympian dies without treatment
Last Updated on June 16, 2024 10:04 am
Palestine’s first Olympian dies without medical treatment due to Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Middle East Eye reported this information in a report on Friday (June 14).
The first Palestinian athlete to compete in the Olympics died of kidney failure last Wednesday in the Nuseirat refugee camp due to lack of electricity and untreated conditions, the media said.
Athlete Majed Abu Maharel died at the age of 61. He carried the Palestinian flag for the first time at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. As a runner, he participated in the 10 km race. Since then, 20 more Palestinians have represented Palestine at the Olympics.
The former Palestinian athlete’s brother told local media that they wanted to take him to Egypt. But they could no longer do so as the occupying Israeli forces closed the Rafah crossing. Later his condition deteriorated and he died.
On October 7 last year, the war between the occupying Israel and the Gaza-based armed group Hamas began. About 38,000 Palestinians have died in the eight-month war. Besides, about 100,000 people were injured.
Immediately after the war began, Israel cut off all supplies, including medical equipment, to Gaza. Due to this, the common people are deprived of getting medical services apart from food problems.