A Palestinian agency confirmed early on Friday that Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara, a 63-year-old Hamas leader from the West Bank, has passed away while under the custody of Israel following a rapid decline in his health. The Palestinian Commission of Detainees Affairs, in a statement, stated Abu Ara breathed his last in a hospital to which he was moved from Ramon jail located in Israel’s southern region.
Prior to his detainment, Abu Ara was grappling with serious health challenges and required rigorous medical attention. Regardless, after his apprehension, he has reportedly been subjected to several infractions like countless other detainees, throughout the ongoing conflict.
The Palestinian institution also claimed that Abu Ara, who was detained last October, underwent torture and was denied necessary medical help. Israel has not offered an instant response.
As per the data from the Palestinian Prisoners Association last month, since the Gaza conflict commenced on October 7th, at least 18 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israeli captivity.
Based upon figures provided by Israel, Hamas-led attackers have caused the death of about 1,200 individuals and captured over 250 others. Around 120 captives are believed to remain, although Israel suspects that one-third of them are deceased.
Gaza’s health officials estimate that the ongoing conflict has led to over 39,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million population. The fighting, they say, has devastated a considerable part of the area leading to an overwhelming humanitarian crisis. (As per information from Reuters)
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