Palestinian deaths surge in Israeli prisons amid abuse

TEL AVIV (MNTV) — The number of Palestinians dying in Israeli custody has risen sharply to nearly 100 since the start of the Gaza genocide, according to a new report by Physicians for Human Rights–Israel (PHRI).

The organization said systemic violence, neglect, and the denial of medical treatment across prisons and military detention sites were among the primary factors behind the deaths it documented.

PHRI’s findings align with an investigation by The Associated Press, which interviewed a former prison guard, a former nurse, medical personnel, ex-detainees, lawyers, and relatives of prisoners.

AP also reviewed autopsy reports and internal prison documents. Together, the accounts describe widespread shackling, beatings, and medical neglect at multiple facilities, including Sde Teiman, a military prison that several staff members referred to as a “graveyard” due to its high death toll.

According to PHRI, of the 98 deaths recorded since October 7, 2023 — the start of what human rights groups describe as the Gaza genocide — 27 occurred in 2023, 50 in 2024, and 21 so far in 2025, with the most recent death reported on November 2.

The group said the true number is likely higher because Israel has withheld information about hundreds of detainees.

Before the war, fewer than 30 Palestinians died in Israeli custody over an entire decade.

Since October 2023, the prison population has doubled to roughly 11,000 people, most of them from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, while the death rate has climbed at an even faster pace.

PHRI gathered its data through interviews, autopsy observations, and freedom of information requests.

Naji Abbas, a PHRI director, condemned the surge in deaths, saying, “The alarming rate at which people are killed in Israeli custody reveals a system that has lost all moral and professional restraint.”

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the prison system, has previously boasted about cutting prison conditions to the bare legal minimum. Rights groups say conditions have slightly improved only after sustained pressure.

The Israel Prison Service said it operates according to Israeli law. It declined to address the reported death toll and directed questions to the Israeli military.

The army acknowledged that detainees have died, attributing the fatalities to preexisting medical conditions or injuries sustained before arrest. It said allegations of abuse are investigated and that personnel found responsible face punishment.

A former guard at Sde Teiman told AP he personally took part in beatings and described prisoners being left shackled for long periods, kicked routinely, and subjected to severe neglect. He recalled finding a detainee dead in the yard with no guards attending to him, calling the scene “business as usual.” A former nurse confirmed that some prisoners suffered such severe injuries from restraints that amputations were sometimes required.

After deaths drew public scrutiny, guards were instructed to reduce the violence, and surveillance cameras were installed, leading to a partial reduction in abuse.

PHRI reports that 29 prisoners have died at Sde Teiman alone since the war began.

Medical neglect further compounded the crisis. Autopsies reviewed by AP show that physical assault and untreated injuries contributed to several deaths, including that of 45-year-old Mohammad Husein Ali, who likely died from brain trauma shortly after being detained despite having no known prior health issues.

Malnutrition also caused deaths, including that of a 17-year-old boy.

Although Israel’s Supreme Court ordered improvements in prison meals earlier this year, rights groups say abuses continue.

Former prisoner and lawyer Sariy Khuorieh said he witnessed daily beatings at Megiddo prison, culminating in the death of a 33-year-old father of four. Despite detainees calling for medical help, no staff member intervened in time. An autopsy showed bruising and broken ribs, suggesting violence was a factor.

Khuorieh said guards laughed after the man’s death, calling it evidence of a wider culture of impunity.

The Israeli military maintains that detainees receive medical checks upon arrival, meals approved by dietitians, and ongoing monitoring as needed. It also cited recent accountability actions, including a soldier sentenced for abuse and several ongoing court cases involving other personnel.

Human rights groups, however, argue that meaningful investigations remain rare, enabling ongoing violations.