DaysofPal- At least 75 Palestinians, including a 17-year-old, have died while in Israeli prisons since October 7, 2023, according to a report released Wednesday by the UN human rights office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The report stated that Israeli occupation forces are carrying out systematic torture, intentional mistreatment, and denial of medical care to Palestinian detainees.
The UN office urged the Israeli occupation to “immediately end the widespread torture and other forms of ill-treatment of Palestinians held in prisons and detention centers” and to safeguard their right to life.
Of the reported deaths, 49 were from Gaza, 24 from the West Bank.
The Israeli occupation authorities have confirmed another 19 deaths, but without providing sufficient details to verify the victims’ identities.
At least five detainees, including a 16-year-old, died shortly after being shot by Israeli forces, some without receiving urgent medical care.
The findings highlighted practices of beatings, waterboarding, stress positions, sexual assault, starvation, and denial of hygiene and health services.
At least 22 detainees who died had pre-existing medical conditions, while testimonies and autopsies in 12 cases linked deaths directly to torture or physical abuse.
The UN also criticized the Israeli occupation for failing to comply with a Sept. 7 High Court ruling that ordered better food provisions for prisoners, and for attempting to suppress information on detention conditions.
“Unless each incident is investigated in line with international standards, Israel bears responsibility for every death in custody,” the report warned, adding that such practices could constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.
The UN office further stressed that the Israeli occupation must guarantee detainees’ rights, including access to families, lawyers, courts, and independent monitoring bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
It also underlined the obligation to provide adequate healthcare to ensure prisoners do not die from preventable or pre-existing conditions.
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