Nearly 100 Palestinian Deaths in Israeli Custody Since the Gaza War Began, Rights Group Says — Former Guard Describes Routine Abuse

Rights group: Nearly 100 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since the Gaza war began

A report published by Physicians for Human Rights–Israel (PHRI) and reporting by The Associated Press say that 98 Palestinians died in Israeli detention between Oct. 7, 2023 and Nov. 2 of this year. The organizations say interviews, autopsy observations and freedom-of-information requests point to patterns of physical abuse, prolonged restraints and inadequate medical care at prisons and detention centers.

What the report found

PHRI documented 27 deaths in 2023, 50 in 2024 and 21 so far this year. The group warned the true toll is likely higher because Israeli authorities have not provided information about hundreds of detainees taken during the war. By contrast, fewer than 30 Palestinians died in custody in the decade before the conflict.

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

Testimony from Sde Teiman and other facilities

The AP spoke with a former guard at Sde Teiman military prison who said detainees were routinely shackled at the arms and legs, beaten with batons, and sometimes treated with indifference when they were found unresponsive. He said the facility had been nicknamed the "graveyard" because of the number of deaths and that some commanders instructed guards to "reduce the number of deaths." He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal.

A former nurse who worked briefly at Sde Teiman told AP that restraints had caused wounds so severe some prisoners later required amputations. She left the job because she could not reconcile the treatment she observed with medical ethics.

PHRI reports that 29 prisoners have died at Sde Teiman since the war began. The military says prolonged handcuffing is used only in exceptional security cases and that detainees' medical conditions are considered. The Israel Prison Service said it operates according to the law and referred questions about deaths to the army.

Autopsies and medical neglect

Doctors who were permitted to observe autopsies at families' requests described signs consistent with physical assault and medical neglect in several cases. AP reviewed eight such autopsy reports.

One case involved 45-year-old Mohammad Husein Ali, who died in Kishon detention center within a week of being detained. His autopsy reportedly showed multiple signs of physical assault and possible brain bleeding; family members said he had been healthy before his arrest. PHRI also identified at least one death in which malnutrition contributed to the death of a 17-year-old.

After legal challenges, Israel's Supreme Court ordered in September that Palestinian inmates be given more and better food; rights groups say conditions have improved slightly. The military maintains detainees receive three dietitian-approved meals a day and that detainees are medically screened on arrival and monitored as needed.

Eyewitness account of a detainee beaten to death

Sariy Khuorieh, an Israeli-Palestinian lawyer detained early in the war, said he saw a 33-year-old detainee in Megiddo prison who screamed for hours while in solitary confinement and repeatedly called for a doctor who did not come. An autopsy report described old and new bruises, including broken ribs, and said violence likely contributed to the death. Khuorieh said guards beat the man before a physician attempted resuscitation.

Accountability and official responses

The army said it is aware some detainees have died, including those with preexisting illnesses or combat-related injuries, and that allegations of abuse or inadequate conditions are assessed. The army said personnel who violate codes of conduct are punished and may be subject to criminal investigations. Earlier this year an Israeli soldier was convicted of abusing detainees at Sde Teiman and sentenced to seven months in prison.

Lawyers and rights groups say that credible investigations and prosecutions are rare and that lack of thorough accountability contributes to an environment in which abuses persist.

This account draws on the PHRI report and AP reporting, which included interviews with former guards and medical staff, former detainees and relatives, hospital doctors who treated malnourished inmates, lawyers, and reviews of autopsy reports and official data.