A report published by *Physicians for Human Rights-Israel* (PHRI) reveals that at least 98 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since the onset of the conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023. This alarming statistic highlights what PHRI describes as a troubling pattern of systemic human rights violations against Palestinians during the ongoing conflict.
The findings are based on a combination of testimonies, official records, and extensive evidence gathered by the organization. The report indicates that the deceased included individuals from various demographics, including the young, the elderly, the healthy, and those suffering from medical conditions. PHRI cautions that the documented cases are likely not exhaustive, suggesting that the actual number of fatalities may be even higher.
Details of Deaths in Custody
Among the fatalities, 42 Palestinians died while detained by the Israel Prison Service, drawing from a population that includes individuals from Gaza, the West Bank, and those holding Israeli citizenship. Additionally, 52 Palestinians from Gaza lost their lives while in Israeli military custody. The causes of death varied, with reports of deaths resulting from medical neglect, physical abuse, or a combination of both.
Testimonies collected by PHRI from Palestinian detainees and Israeli medical practitioners portray military detention facilities as locations of “systematic torture and abuse.” These accounts highlight the dire conditions faced by detainees, with numerous individuals from Gaza reportedly succumbing to poor treatment while in military custody.
Raed Jarrar, the advocacy director at the human rights organization *DAWN*, pointed to the PHRI report as further evidence of Israel’s significant human rights violations. He criticized the United States for its continued financial support of Israel despite documented abuses, stating, “Despite overwhelming evidence of these crimes and grave violations of human rights, documented even by the State Department’s own watchdog, not a single Israeli unit has been deemed ineligible for US weapons, making the United States complicit in Israel’s systematic torture regime.”
Wider Context of the Conflict
In addition to those who died in custody, the ongoing conflict has led to a staggering toll on the Palestinian population, with over 69,000 Palestinians reported dead since the war in Gaza began. The conflict was ignited when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,200 Israelis.
The PHRI report underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform within the Israeli detention system. As the situation continues to evolve, the implications for human rights and international relations remain significant.
