A senior Hamas leader from the West Bank, Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara, has died in Israeli custody.
Abu Ara’s death followed a severe decline in his health, according to an early Friday statement from the Palestinian Commission of Detainees Affairs.
Reuters reports that the 63-year-old who had been incarcerated at the Ramon jail in southern Israel, was transferred to a hospital where he later passed on.
“Prior to his arrest, he was grappling with severe health issues and required intensive medical care. However, since his arrest, Sheikh Abu Ara, like all detainees, has encountered unprecedented mistreatment… since the onset of the extermination war,” the statement read:
The Palestinian organization said the deceased was detained in October of the previous year, endured torture and was denied medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Israel has not yet responded to the allegations.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Association, at least 18 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since the start of the Gaza war on October 7.
Meanwhile, according to Israeli reports, Hamas-led attackers killed 1,200 people and taken over 250 captives. Approximately 120 hostages remain in captivity, with Israel estimating that a third of them may have died.
Gaza: Senior Hamas leader dies in Israeli custody
