Report: 98 Palestinians Dead in Israeli Custody Since Gaza War

A new report from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel documents at least 98 Palestinian deaths in Israeli custody since the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023, attributing the fatalities to systematic abuse, torture, medical neglect and malnutrition. The findings, released on November 18, highlight a sharp escalation in prison deaths compared to the previous decade, when fewer than 30 Palestinians died while detained.

The organization, which advocates for human rights through medical expertise, analyzed testimonies from former detainees and medical staff, autopsy reports and administrative records obtained via legal appeals. Of the documented deaths, 52 occurred in military facilities and 46 in those run by the Israel Prison Service. The report notes that 68 victims were from Gaza and 26 from the West Bank or held Israeli citizenship. It warns that the true toll is likely higher, given the unknown fate of hundreds of Palestinians detained from Gaza between October 2023 and April 2024, many classified as unlawful combatants and subjected to stricter regimes without trial.

Since the war began following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, authorities have arrested more...