DaysofPal – A Palestinian prisoner from the Gaza Strip has died under suspicious circumstances inside a secret Israeli interrogation facility run by the Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet), the Israeli newspaper Haaretz has revealed.
The man, a 40-year-old resident of Gaza, died in January 2024 after falling from a height while being held with his hands tied in a Shin Bet detention center. Israeli authorities have up until now concealed his death.
Haaretz reported that the man’s body was transferred without any identifying information and registered simply as “unknown,” despite the Shin Bet reportedly knowing his identity. An autopsy confirmed injuries consistent with a fall, along with marks indicating he had been handcuffed for an extended period.
Israeli investigative sources claimed he died while attempting to escape the facility, even though his hands were restrained. The Ministry of Justice later announced that its investigation had concluded with “no criminal suspicions,” even though the death occurred in state custody, raising serious concerns about negligence or worse. The Shin Bet has not commented on the incident.
According to the report, at least six Palestinian detainees have died under Shin Bet interrogation since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023.
Systematic Abuse in Custody
The latest death comes amid mounting evidence of widespread abuse of Palestinian detainees, especially those from Gaza. Since October 7, Israel has detained thousands of Palestinians, many under the classification of “illegal combatants”, a designation that strips them of international legal protections and allows indefinite detention in secretive military camps beyond any civilian oversight.
The Prisoners’ Media Office in Gaza confirmed that nine detainees were released by Israeli authorities on Monday and transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital via the Kissufim crossing. The released prisoners have reportedly shown signs of severe physical and psychological abuse.
The occupation authorities classify some 1,747 prisoners from Gaza as “illegal combatants,” a dangerous designation used to strip them of international legal protection and allow them to be held in closed military camps that are not subject to any oversight.
Testimonies collected by Palestinian human rights groups describe beatings, medical neglect, solitary confinement, and deprivation of food and healthcare. Senior Israeli government officials, including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, either condone or overlook many of these violations.
Experts in international law warn that these practices may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Yet, the international response remains muted, with many Western governments continuing their support for Israel’s military campaign despite overwhelming evidence of systemic abuse.
According to a Palestinian human rights report published Sunday, the number of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel has reached around 10,800 as of July 2025, the highest since the Second Intifada in 2000. This includes 49 women and 450 children.
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