Israeli authorities have officially acknowledged the death of a Palestinian detainee from Gaza nearly two years after he died in custody, according to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs. Ihab Mohammed Abdel Qader Diab, 36, was taken into detention on December 12, 2023, and is believed to have died around September 18, 2024, following approximately nine months in Israeli custody.
The circumstances surrounding Diab’s death remain disputed. Israeli officials attribute his passing to an underlying health condition, a claim his family categorically rejects, stating he was in good health at the time of his arrest. Diab’s relatives and Palestinian authorities contend that torture and mistreatment during his detention were responsible for his death, and they have called for an international investigation into the matter.
Diab’s case is part of a larger concern regarding Palestinian detainees held by Israel. According to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, his death brings the total number of Palestinians who have died in Israeli custody since 1967 to 328, with 91 of those deaths occurring since October 7, 2023. Gaza’s Prisoners’ Ministry has held the Israeli government accountable for the death, citing allegations of torture, inadequate medical care, and harsh detention conditions.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about Israel’s detention practices, with human rights organizations reporting that thousands of Palestinians are held without formal charges or trial.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
About the Author
