Italy rejects extradition to Israel of Palestinian arrested on suspicion of planning attack

An Italian appeals court is refusing to send a Palestinian arrested by authorities to Israel, saying he risked "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" if he was extradited.

The man, 36-year-old Anan Kamal Afif Yaeesh, was one of three Palestinians arrested in central Italy on suspicion they were planning attacks in an unspecified country.

Israel applied for his extradition, but his lawyer opposed the request, presenting reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch on prison conditions for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

In a written ruling, a panel of three judges in the central city of L'Aquila sided with the defence, saying Yaeesh would face "acts constituting a violation of human rights" if the extradition request was granted.

Reporting by Reuters