DayofPal– A former Palestinian detainee has come forward with harrowing details of the brutal torture and sexual violence that led to the death of Musab Haniyah, a 35-year-old Palestinian from Gaza, in an Israeli prison.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, the ex-detainee described the severe abuse Haniyah endured at the hands of Israeli interrogators, shedding light on the inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners.
According to the witness, Israeli interrogators repeatedly raped Haniyah and subjected him to extreme torture, including the forced insertion of a rod through his body.
“It came out of his stomach,” the witness recalled. “They left him bleeding without medical care and later claimed he died of cancer.” The former detainee further stated that this method of torture has been used on multiple prisoners, leading to their deaths.
The witness also detailed the appalling conditions inside Israeli detention centers. “They tie us up for days, sometimes months. Some detainees were kept in restraints for over 400 days,” he said. “They unleash vicious dogs on us daily, using them as weapons.”
Haniyah’s health deteriorated rapidly due to the relentless abuse. “He was in perfect health when they abducted him. He weighed about 150 kilograms. By the time he died, he was only 40 kilograms,” the witness said.
“They tortured him to the brink of death, then claimed he had cancer. Finally, they put him in a black plastic bag and took him away.”
Haniyah was abducted from Hamad City in Gaza on March 3, 2024. His family confirmed that he had no prior health issues. He was married and had a nine-year-old son.
On January 5, 2025, Israeli authorities informed Palestinian officials of his death. His case highlights the widespread use of extreme torture and sexual violence against Palestinian detainees.
Rights groups have long accused Israel of concealing the deaths of prisoners in custody. Israeli authorities frequently delay or manipulate official reports and refuse to release the bodies of those who die under detention. In most cases, military statements serve as the only confirmation of a detainee’s death, with no further transparency.
Since the start of the war in Gaza, at least 59 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli prisons, including 38 from Gaza, making this the deadliest period for Palestinian prisoners since 1967.
The total number of Palestinian detainees killed in Israeli custody since 1967 has now reached 296, though rights groups warn that the actual number is likely much higher due to forced disappearances.
Survivor testimonies describe extreme torture, medical neglect, and systematic abuse in Israeli prisons. Methods include severe beatings, starvation, and sexual violence, leaving detainees to suffer agonizing deaths without medical care.
The Prisoners’ Affairs Commission and the Prisoners’ Club condemned Haniyah’s death, calling it another act of systematic execution through torture and deprivation.
They warned that Israel’s treatment of detainees constitutes a deliberate policy of slow execution, escalating its assault on Palestinian prisoners.
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