A new report says nearly 100 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since the Gaza war began, a sharp surge that a rights group blames on abuse and denial of medical care.
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel says it has documented 98 deaths since the October 7, 2023, attacks. The group says that figure is already far higher than the roughly two dozen deaths recorded in the entire decade before the war.
PHRI says the real number is likely higher because Israel has not released full details on hundreds of Palestinians detained from Gaza.
The report shows that 52 of the deaths happened in military custody, mostly detainees taken from Gaza. Another 46 died in facilities run by the Israel Prison Service.
The group alleges widespread beatings and severe medical neglect. It points to autopsy reports showing bruising, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and untreated injuries.
PHRI says the pattern reflects a system that has “lost all moral and professional restraint.”
Israel’s military and prison authorities deny the allegations. They say detentions follow Israeli and international law and that some of the deaths were linked to pre-existing illnesses or war injuries. They also say misconduct is investigated and punished.
But rights groups say conditions have sharply worsened since October 7 and are calling for an independent international investigation to determine what happened and who should be held accountable.
