The death toll among Palestinians in Israeli custody has risen to nearly 100 individuals since the Gaza war began, as reported by a human rights organization on Monday. The group, Physicians for Human Rights – Israel (PHRI), highlighted the impact of systematic violence and lack of medical care in prisons and detention centers on many of the deaths. PHRI’s findings align with investigations conducted by The Associated Press, which gathered testimonies on prison mistreatment, medical negligence, and deaths, alongside data analysis and autopsy reports.
According to PHRI, out of the 98 documented prisoner deaths following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that triggered the conflict, 27 occurred in 2023, 50 in 2024, and 21 in the current year, with the latest fatality reported on Nov. 2. The organization believes the actual death toll could be significantly higher, as Israel has not disclosed information about hundreds of detainees from the war period.
Before the conflict, less than 30 Palestinian prisoners had died in Israeli custody over a decade. However, during and after the war, the prison population more than doubled to 11,000, primarily comprising individuals from Gaza and the West Bank. PHRI’s data indicates a rapid increase in prisoner deaths during this period.
The organization documented the fatalities through interviews with former detainees and prison medical staff, examination of autopsy reports, and obtaining information through freedom of information requests. Naji Abbas, a director at PHRI, expressed concern over the high rate of deaths in Israeli custody, calling it a reflection of a system lacking moral and professional boundaries.
Despite the alarming trend, Israel’s Prison Service maintains operations in compliance with the law and refrained from commenting on the death count, redirecting inquiries to the military. The army acknowledged detainee deaths, attributing some to pre-existing conditions or combat-related injuries. Allegations of abuse or substandard conditions are investigated, with violators facing disciplinary action and potential criminal probes.
A former guard at the Sde Teiman military prison in southern Israel revealed the facility’s grim reputation as a “graveyard” due to the significant number of prisoner deaths. The guard, who spoke anonymously, disclosed instances of physical abuse and neglect within the prison, including prolonged handcuffing and beatings sanctioned by commanding officers. Surveillance cameras were later installed to curb misconduct.
PHRI noted that 29 deaths occurred at Sde Teiman since the war onset. While the army cited a case where an Israeli soldier was convicted of mistreating Palestinians at the facility, prisoner advocates argue that Israel’s investigative efforts into such incidents are inadequate. The resignation of Israel’s top military lawyer following a leaked abuse video further underlines the persistent challenges in addressing prisoner mistreatment within the system.
Reports from doctors who attended autopsies at the request of families revealed signs of physical abuse and medical neglect in several cases. One report detailed the death of Mohammad Husein Ali, a 45-year-old man who exhibited signs of assault and potential brain injury while in detention. His family emphasized his prior good health and disputed any militant associations at the time of his arrest.
The tragic accounts underscore the broader issue of Palestinian deaths in Israeli custody, prompting calls for increased accountability and scrutiny of prison conditions.
