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Middle East Eye
5 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Palestinian prisoner death toll rises as elderly man from Gaza dies in Israeli detention
An elderly man from Gaza has died in Israeli detention, bringing the overall death toll of Palestinian prisoners to at least 71 since 7 October 2023. Though the Israeli army had notified two Palestinian prisoner advocacy groups, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club and the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, of his death in recent days, 70-year-old Hussein Abu Habel actually died on 10 January. Forty-five of the 71 Palestinians known to have died in Israeli-run detention centres and prisons since the start of the war on Gaza were from Gaza and their identities were known. In what has been described by the two prisoner advocacy groups as the "bloodiest phase in the history of the prisoner movement" and the "most severe" in detention conditions, the total number of identified Palestinian prisoners to have died since 1967 has risen to 308. "The case of the martyr Abu Habel is added to the record of the Israeli system of brutality, which operates around the clock through a series of organised crimes to kill prisoners and detainees," the prisoner advocacy groups said in a statement. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "These crimes constitute another aspect of the ongoing genocide and an extension of it." Torture, sexual assault, negiligence Abu Habel, who was married and the father of 11 children, was arrested on 12 November. The prisoner groups said they held Israel fully responsible for his death and demanded an international investigation into the deaths of Palestinian detainees. They said that reports on detainees and the circumstances of their deaths have been "limited to the army's narrative", as prison authorities continue to withhold some of the prisoners' bodies and have failed to disclose the cause of death. The statement emphasised that "torture crimes" constituted the "primary cause" of death for most Palestinian detainees killed since the beginning of the war on Gaza, alongside "escalating medical crimes, starvation and rape crimes". The Palestinian Prisoners' Club and the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said the situation in Israeli prisons was taking "a more dangerous turn". According to the advocacy groups, Palestinian prisoners continue to be exposed to "systemic crimes", including starvation, torture, medical crimes and negiligence, sexual assaults, and the deliberate placing of them in poor and crowded conditions that lead to serious and contagious diseases. In a press release, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), an NGO established to monitor the use of torture and ill-treatment by Israeli security services against Palestinians under detention, noted a gap of 144 detainees in the state's data. "The fate of these detainees is unknown, and unexplained by state authorities," the statement read. Tal Steiner, the group's executive director, called on Israeli authorities to "provide complete explanations regarding the fate of the 144 missing detainees, and to immediately change the legislation that violates the fundamental rights of detainees. "The disturbing reports of torture in detention facilities and harsh living conditions that have even led to the deaths of many detainees require immediate investigation and fundamental change in the treatment of detainees." Administrative detention and 'unlawful combatants' As of June, there are over 10,400 Palestinians held in Israeli-run prisons, not including those held under military administrative detention. With regards to Palestinians held in military prisons under administrative detention, there are 49 women, over 440 children and 3,562 men, according to the Commission of Detainees Affairs. War on Gaza: Israel imprisoned 82-year-old Palestinian woman as 'unlawful combatant' Read More » Administrative detention allows Israel's military to hold prisoners indefinitely, citing alleged secret information, without charging them or allowing them to stand trial. While the period of detention lasts six months, it can be renewed indefinitely. Access to a lawyer varies from case to case, though, and detainees don't know what the charges against them are. An additional 2,214 detainees held by military authorities are from Gaza and have been classified as "unlawful combatants". The majority of people from Gaza held under the unlawful combatant law don't have charges against them either. Steiner said the legislation "enables serious rights violations that are incompatible with democratic values and international law". Released Palestinians from Gaza have spoken of how they were interrogated about whether they supported Hamas, where they lived and other details about their lives - but not presented with a single charge. Since Israel launched a ground invasion of Gaza in late October 2023, its forces have seized hundreds of civilians from their homes or while they were fleeing fighting through "safe corridors". Some have been released after interrogation but many have been taken to undisclosed locations, including mothers separated from their babies.
Saba Yemen
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Israeli army escalates assaults inside Jenin
Jenin - Saba: On Monday, the Zionist enemy forces continued their aggression on the city of Jenin and its camp for the 126th consecutive day, expanding their bulldozing and destruction operations inside the camp, with the aim of changing its features and structure. The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) quoted Jenin Mayor Muhammad Jarrar as saying that since the beginning of the aggression on Jenin and its camp, nearly four months ago, approximately 22,000 residents have been displaced from the camp and its surroundings, posing significant challenges to the Jenin Municipality on both the humanitarian and economic fronts. He explained that the percentage of displaced persons has reached 25% of the city's total population, creating challenges on all fronts, including economic, social, environmental, service, and health. Jarar estimated the extent of the destruction resulting from the ongoing aggression on the city and its camp at approximately $300 million, asserting that the enemy is deliberately carrying out widespread destruction to transform the camp and its surroundings into an uninhabitable area. He added that the enemy forces completely destroyed the infrastructure in Jenin camp. Municipality crews estimate that 600 homes were completely destroyed, in addition to the partial destruction of other housing units. He also noted that 4,000 workers lost their jobs due to the aggression. He pointed out that municipal crews have begun repairs in several areas of Jenin city, including resurfacing and repairing entrances to allow residents to enter. They have also resurfaced and repaired major streets in the city, including Nazareth and Bayader streets. The water network in the eastern neighborhood has been completely repaired, as has half of the sewage network in the same area, at a cost of 17 million shekels. The street behind Ibn Sina Hospital in the city center has also been rehabilitated. According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, the enemy has arrested approximately 1,000 citizens from Jenin and Tulkarm over the past four months, including those who were later released. On the ground, Israeli forces arrested four young men from the town of Qabatiya yesterday after raiding and searching their homes. Their vehicles also stormed the town of Burqin to the west and raided the gas station there. In the city of Jenin, Israeli soldiers stationed around Jenin Governmental Hospital arrested a young man. Villages in the Jenin Governorate are witnessing near-daily raids as the aggression against the city and camp continues. Daily military movements are recorded in most villages of the governorate, along with the constant presence of Israeli patrols and vehicles. The Israeli army continues to send military reinforcements to and around Jenin camp and continues to fire live ammunition intensively inside it. The aggression has so far resulted in the deaths of 40 citizens and more than 200 injuries. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Saba Yemen
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Occupier arrests 20 Palestinians in West Bank
Ramallah - Saba: Since last night until Wednesday morning (20), Israeli forces have arrested at least (20) Palestinian citizens from the West Bank, including three women, in addition to released prisoners. The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club said in a joint statement that Israeli forces are continuing their arrests and field investigations in the West Bank at an escalating pace. This comes in light of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, which is accompanied by attacks and threats against detainees and their families, in addition to the vandalism and destruction of citizens' homes, and the confiscation of money and cars. Furthermore, the Israeli enemy continues its siege of the towns of Burqin and Kafr ad-Dik for the eighth consecutive day. There are no clear data on the arrests and field investigations, as a result of the ongoing aggression in the two towns, accompanied by field executions and the conversion of homes into military barracks. It is noteworthy that the Israeli enemy continues its aggression against the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm, carrying out arrests and field investigations for months, amounting to approximately 1,000 arrests in the two cities, including those who were arrested and subsequently released. It is worth noting that these arrests come in light of the comprehensive Israeli aggression waged against the Palestinian people since the beginning of the war of extermination. During this aggression, the enemy has arrested approximately 17,000 Palestinian citizens from the West Bank, in addition to dozens of Palestinian workers and thousands from Gaza. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Days of Palestine
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Three More Palestinian Prisoners Die under Torture in Israeli Prisons
DaysofPal- Palestinian human rights organizations have confirmed the deaths of three detainees from Gaza following official responses from Israeli authorities. According to prisoners' rights groups, the Israeli army informed them of the deaths of Ayman Abdul Hadi Qdeih (56 years old),Bilal Talal Salama (24 years old),Mohammed Ismail Al-Astal (46 years old). In a joint statement, the organizations said that Qdeih was arrested on October 7, 2023, and according to the army's reply, he died just five days later, on October 12, 2023. Bilal Salama was arrested in March 2024 while fleeing from Khan Younis, and died on August 11, 2024, according to the military. Al-Astal was detained on February 7, 2024, and died on May 2, 2025. These deaths bring the total number of known prisoners and detainees killed since the beginning of the genocide to 69, including 44 from Gaza, and raise the overall death toll among Palestinian prisoners since 1967 to 306. The organizations—which include the Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, and Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, stated that Israel continues to conceal the identities of many deceased detainees from Gaza, making this period the deadliest in the history of the Palestinian prisoners' movement. They added that the deaths of the three prisoners are part of the ongoing systemic brutality by Israel, describing the detention system as a 'machine of organized crime' working around the clock to kill prisoners. These acts constitute another face of the broader genocide. The case of Gaza detainees remains one of the most horrific aspects of this war, with reports highlighting unprecedented crimes, including torture, starvation, medical neglect, and sexual abuse. Statements from recently released detainees from Gaza have detailed some of the most brutal and inhumane treatment occurring daily. The groups noted that the Israeli military provides no further details about the circumstances of these deaths, only the date. They also revealed that Israeli authorities have repeatedly attempted to manipulate their responses, giving inconsistent information. In some cases, legal action had to be taken to force the army to confirm a prisoner's fate. The organizations emphasized that thousands of prisoners are facing slow and deliberate death in Israeli prisons and military camps, where neglect and abuse lead to the spread of disease and worsening health conditions. They stressed that torture, medical neglect, and starvation are the main causes behind these deaths, warning that unless these crimes stop, the number of victims will continue to rise. Time, they said, is now a decisive factor in the fate of these detainees. The organizations held Israel fully responsible for the deaths and renewed their call for the international human rights community to open an independent investigation into the deaths of dozens of detainees since the beginning of the genocide and to take concrete steps to hold Israeli leaders accountable for war crimes. As of early May 2025, the number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails has surpassed 10,100, including 37 women, over 400 children, 3,577 administrative detainees, and 1,846 detainees from Gaza labeled by Israel as 'unlawful combatants'—a classification that does not include all Gaza detainees, particularly those held in military camps. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
14-05-2025
- Health
- Days of Palestine
Israel Holds Two Pregnant Palestinian Women in Harsh Prison Conditions
DaysofPal — Human rights groups have sounded the alarm over the deteriorating health and prison conditions of two pregnant Palestinian detainees, Reema Balawi from Tulkarem and Zahraa Al-Kawazbeh from Bethlehem, currently being held in Israel's Damon Prison under increasingly harsh and inhumane circumstances. According to a statement released Wednesday by the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, both women are five months pregnant and are suffering from 'organized and systematic violations,' including starvation and the denial of basic necessities. The organization accused the Israeli prison administration of deliberately withholding essential needs from both women, as part of broader policies of deprivation targeting Palestinian prisoners, even those with critical health and maternity needs. Reema Balawi, 31, a mother of two, was arrested from her home in Tulkarem in February 2025 on charges of alleged 'incitement.' Zahraa Al-Kawazbeh, 37, a mother of three, was detained in early April 2025 while returning with her family from Jericho. Israeli courts have extended their detention multiple times, with upcoming hearings scheduled for May 18 for Al-Kawazbeh and June 15 for Balawi. The Prisoners' Club noted that Balawi suffers from blood disorders due to thalassemia and needs ongoing medical care. Al-Kawazbeh has neurological issues and also requires urgent medical attention. The group warned that these conditions are part of a larger pattern of systematic arrests of Palestinian women, which has escalated since Israel launched its full-scale assault on Gaza on October 7, 2023. Since the start of the war, human rights organizations have documented 525 arrests of Palestinian women. As of now, 37 women remain imprisoned, including two who are five months pregnant. Advocates are calling on international human rights bodies to intervene immediately and pressure Israel to uphold the medical and humanitarian rights of all detainees, especially pregnant women whose lives and unborn children are at risk.
