Palestinian prisoner dies in Israeli custody amid surge in torture-related deaths

A 26-year-old Palestinian prisoner has died in Israeli custody, where torture-related deaths have sharply increased over the past two years, Palestinian authorities reported on Sunday.

Sakhr Ahmad Khalil Zaoul, from Bethlehem, was perfectly healthy when he was arrested in June and placed under administrative detention - imprisonment without charge or trial - in the notorious Ofer prison, according to his family. 

His death comes just days after the announcement of another prisoner’s death, 21-year-old Abdul Rahman al-Sabateen, confirmed by the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS).

"The Israeli practices against prisoners is nothing more than systematic extermination, carried out with open and explicit calls from leaders and ministers in the government," the commission and PPS said on Sunday.

The groups added that conditions inside Israeli-run prisons "go beyond all description", citing torture, starvation, medical neglect, sexual abuse, and the denial of basic rights.

Human rights organisations and media reports have previously accused Israeli authorities of torturing Palestinians at Ofer, located between Jerusalem and Ramallah, and in other detention facilities.

Palestinians held under administrative detention face particularly harsh conditions and violent assaults.

The controversial policy, which allows imprisonment without charge or trial, has been used increasingly since October 2023.

At a meeting held by the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) on Sunday, Palestinian journalist Sami al-Saai, who was detained under this policy, described the torture he endured, including being raped. 

"I was subjected to beatings, threats and sexual assault by multiple prison guards during my detention in Megiddo prison from February 2024 to June this year," he said.

'Torture camps'

At least 9,300 Palestinians are currently reported to be held in Israeli prisons, though the actual figure is believed to be higher, as Israel withholds information on hundreds of people seized in Gaza.

While abuses in Israeli detention have long been documented, reports of torture and prisoner deaths have surged since October 2023.

At least 100 deaths have been documented under such conditions, though Palestinian groups say the actual number is likely higher due to Israel’s withholding of information.

International and Israeli human rights groups have condemned the abuses. B’Tselem has referred to Israeli prisons as “torture camps”.

Israel’s Public Defender’s Office admitted earlier this month that conditions have worsened since October 2023, with Palestinians enduring extreme hunger, overcrowding and systematic violence from prison staff.

A report by the UN Committee against Torture, published last month, said that torture in Israeli prisons is "organised and widespread", and has greatly increased since the start of the Gaza war.

"The committee was deeply concerned about reports indicating a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture and ill-treatment during the reporting period, which had gravely intensified since 7 October 2023," the report said.