Death of a Palestinian prisoner in Israeli custody at Ofer prison

Mouath Nizam Al-Atrash, a 21-year-old Palestinian prisoner from Hebron, lost his life in Ofer prison in Israel. This news was announced on Wednesday by the Palestinian Commission for Prisoners and Released Prisoners. His family says that they have not been given any explanation regarding his death and were only informed that he had died in prison.

Conditions of Detention and Family Concerns

Mouath Al-Atrash had been held in administrative detention without charges or trial for nearly a year, and Israeli authorities had kept him in custody citing what they referred to as a "classified file." Legal records show that prior to his arrest, he had no known health issues. His death has raised many questions about the conditions of his detention and the sudden deterioration of his health.

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His brother, Basel Al-Atrash, stated in an interview that the family is in shock. Their lawyer's last visit with Mouath was two months ago, and this meeting lasted only five minutes. During this visit, Mouath told his lawyer that he was feeling well and showed no signs of illness. Additionally, one of the prisoners who was released two days before his death told the family that Mouath appeared to be in good health.

Family Concerns and Prisoner Statistics

Basel Al-Atrash added: "The Israeli occupier summoned my father yesterday, and an officer informed him that his son had died in prison, without specifying the cause of death or any health issues." This officer asked his father to sign a consent form for an autopsy. The family is worried that Israeli authorities may keep Mouath's body, which, according to Palestinian human rights groups, has happened in similar cases in the past.

Mouath was arrested on October 5, 2022, at his home in Hebron and was placed in administrative detention for six months, which was later extended. Basel said: "We were waiting for the end of this second extension period on October 3, and we hoped he would be released, preparing to welcome him. Instead, we were devastated to hear of his death and that he would never return." Mouath was the youngest child of six in the family and was working in a bakery before his arrest, trying to build a future for himself.

The Commission of Prisoners and the Palestinian Prisoners' Union described Al-Atrash's death as part of what they call a "genocidal policy" against Palestinian prisoners. According to statistics from these organizations, as of October 2023, 92 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli prisons, including 53 from Gaza, and this figure only includes deaths whose identities have been confirmed.

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