BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian being held in an Israeli jail has suffered irreparable damage to his vocal cords as a result of medical negligence, losing the ability to speak, a PA ministry said Friday.

The ministry of prisoners affairs said that Mahmud Hamdi Shabaneh, 40, from Hebron is being held under administrative detention in Israel's Negev prison.

Israeli prison authorities repeatedly ignored his medical condition, thought to be an infection in his vocal chords, leading Shabaneh to lose the ability to speak.