Physicians for Human Rights — Israel: At Least 94 Palestinians Died in Israeli Custody Since Oct. 7, 2023 — Report Alleges Abuse and Medical Neglect

Report: 94 Palestinian detainee deaths in Israeli custody amid allegations of abuse and neglect

Physicians for Human Rights — Israel (PHRI) says at least 94 Palestinians died while in Israeli civil or military custody between Oct. 7, 2023, and August 2025. The Israel-based medical human-rights group warns its tally is likely an undercount and attributes most deaths to a combination of alleged physical violence and medical negligence.

Key findings

PHRI reports that of the 94 detainees who died during the period it reviewed, 68 were from the Gaza Strip and 26 from the West Bank. The group highlights that 29 deaths occurred at the Sde Teiman detention facility. Post-mortem examinations and testimonies cited by PHRI reportedly show signs consistent with severe beatings (bruising, multiple rib fractures, hemorrhages and intra-abdominal lacerations), cases of severe malnutrition and untreated serious infections.

How the report was compiled

PHRI says it based the report on interviews with former detainees and prison medical staff, reviews of doctors' reports from autopsies requested by families, and confirmation of dozens of fatalities through freedom of information requests to Israeli authorities. The organization cautions that Israeli authorities have declined to provide information on hundreds of people detained since the conflict began, so the real toll may be higher.

Notable cases and testimonies

The report cites specific autopsy findings, including a case identified as Mohammad Husein Ali, a 45-year-old who died in Kishon detention center; PHRI says an autopsy documented multiple signs of assault and a likely brain bleed. PHRI also points to at least one death attributed in part to malnutrition: a reported case of a 17-year-old who died of starvation.

Former staff testimonies included in the report describe harsh restraints and alleged mistreatment. A nurse who worked briefly at Sde Teiman told PHRI (on condition of anonymity) that chains were used to shackle prisoners' arms and legs and that some injuries were so severe they later required amputations. A former guard reported that commanders once urged staff to "reduce the number of deaths," and that installing cameras later helped curb abuse.

Official responses

The Israel Prison Service (IPS) and the military responded that facilities operate under Israeli law and oversight, that detainees receive medical care and appropriate meals, and that the IPS is not aware of the specific incidents described in the report. The army said prolonged restraints are used only in exceptional cases for security reasons and that detainees' medical conditions are considered.

This year a soldier was convicted and sentenced to seven months in prison for abusing Palestinian detainees at Sde Teiman — a case the military cited as evidence of accountability — while lawyers for detainees and rights groups contend that serious investigations are rare and systemic problems persist.

Limitations, calls for action and context

PHRI notes that fewer than 30 Palestinians died in Israeli custody in the decade before the Oct. 2023 attacks, and that the prison population has more than doubled to roughly 11,000 since then. The group calls for greater transparency, independent investigations into suspicious deaths, and improved medical oversight in detention facilities.

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

— Naji Abbas, PHRI director (quoted in the report)

The report and responses highlight sharp disagreement over cause and responsibility. PHRI presents medical reports and witness testimony as evidence of abuse and neglect; Israeli authorities stress adherence to law, oversight and existing medical procedures while disputing the report’s specific allegations. Rights groups have urged continued independent scrutiny.