92 Palestinians die in Israeli jails since Gaza war

At least 92 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, Palestinian rights organisations have said, describing the deaths as a result of systematic abuse.

The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a joint statement on Tuesday (September 15) that the deceased include 11 prisoners from the Gaza Strip.

The organisations said the deaths were caused by torture, denial of medical treatment, deliberate starvation and inhumane detention conditions.They noted that 92 custodial deaths in less than two years is unprecedented and constitutes the deadliest period for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

According to their data, over 10,500 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli detention facilities, the highest number in decades. The figure includes hundreds of children and women.The groups held Israel fully responsible for the deaths and urged the United Nations and international human rights bodies to launch an independent investigation.

The deaths come amid Israel’s continuing offensive on Gaza, which has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023.