Top Hamas Leader Dies In Israeli Custody
Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara, Hamas leader from the West Bank, has died in Israeli custody following a severe decline in his health, according to an early Friday statement from the Palestinian Commission of Detainees Affairs.
The 63-year-old Abu Ara, who had been incarcerated at the Ramon jail in southern Israel, was transferred to a hospital where he later passed on, Reuters reports.
The statement read: “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 Palestinian organization reported that Abu Ara, who was detained in October of the previous year, endured torture and was denied medical treatment. Israel has not yet responded to these 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 health officials report that over 39,000 Palestinians have died, and the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict. The fighting has devastated much of the enclave, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis.
