Palestinian Prisoner Killed in Israeli Custody, Raising Toll to 50 Since Genocide Began
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Ashraf Mohammed Fakhri Abu Wardeh, a 51-year-old Palestinian prisoner from Gaza, was killed in Israeli custody. Palestinian prisoner institutions confirmed his death on Sunday in Israel’s Soroka Medical Center.
Abu Wardeh was transferred to Soroka on December 27, 2024, from Negev Prison. He had been detained since November 20, 2023. His family stated that he had no prior health conditions.
Prisoner advocacy groups reported that Abu Wardeh’s death brings the number of Palestinian detainees killed in Israeli custody since the start of the ongoing genocide to 50. This marks the deadliest period for Palestinian prisoners since 1967.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners Club described Abu Wardeh’s death as part of Israel’s systematic cruelty. They stated that Israeli authorities have escalated abuses, including torture, starvation, and medical negligence.
“These actions amount to a deliberate campaign to execute and assassinate Palestinian prisoners,” the groups stated.
They warned that the death toll among detainees is likely to rise due to Israel’s harsh policies, which include denial of medical care, overcrowded conditions, and systematic abuse.
The groups held Israeli authorities fully responsible for Abu Wardeh’s death. They urged international human rights organizations to act decisively against Israel’s war crimes.
“Global rights institutions must impose sanctions on Israel and hold its leaders accountable,” the organizations demanded. They emphasized the need to end the “extraordinary immunity” Israel enjoys on the international stage.
Over 10,300 Palestinians are currently imprisoned by Israel, according to prison authorities. Among them are 90 women, at least 345 children, and 3,428 administrative detainees held without trial.
Many detainees, especially from Gaza, remain victims of forced disappearance in Israeli military camps. Advocacy groups continue to call for urgent action to protect Palestinian prisoners from further harm.
