Daoud al-Khatib, 45, died in Ofer prison last month near the end of 18-year sentence, of heart attack. He had undergone open-heart surgery in 2017, but difficult living conditions in prison, combined with the grief of losing both his parents while behind bars, had an adverse effect on his health.

Ten members of parliament from various European countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom have called on governments of the Middle East to release prisoners of conscience, where thousands of political prisoners are held in countries such as Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

Sami Abu Diak’s dying request in Israeli prison: “To all people of conscience, I live my last days and hours, and I want to spend them with my mother and beloved family,” he wrote. “I don’t want to leave life with my hands and legs handcuffed in front of jailers who love death and delight in our pain and suffering.”