The Palestinian Authority’s Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) announced today the death of Palestinian prisoner Mohammed Munir Mousa, 37, from Bethlehem. He died at Soroka Hospital in Israel on Friday, October 11.
In a joint statement released today, the organizations reported that they were informed of Mousa’s death by Israeli occupation authorities. He had been detained since April 20, 2023. Prior to his death, he was held at Ramon Prison and had no known chronic health issues.
The statement highlighted the concerning circumstances surrounding Mousa’s death, noting that he is among 41 Palestinian prisoners who have died in custody since October 7, 2023. These fatalities are attributed to the systemic abuses, including torture, medical neglect, and starvation practiced by Israeli occupation authorities against Palestinian prisoners, the statement said.
The report condemned the Israeli government’s atrocities, stating that since the onset of the c
urrent Israeli aggression, it has engaged in unprecedented violence against the prisoners, which is believed to be ordered at the highest levels of the Israeli administration. The report specifically named Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for inciting violence against Palestinian detainees.
“One aspect of this system is the fascist minister Ben-Gvir, who continues to commit crimes against prisoners and boasts about them in front of the cameras,” the report said.
“He [Ben-Gvir] even documents these actions to share them, aiming to satisfy the desire for revenge within Israeli society and inciting violence against prisoners, as well as targeting the Palestinian prisoner in the collective national consciousness.”
According to the two organizations, the number of deceased detainees has increased dramatically since October 7, 2023, with at least 41 confirmed dead, including 24 from Gaza. Many others remain unaccounted for as their identities have not been disclosed by the Israeli authorities, marking one of th
e highest mortality rates among prisoners in recent years.
Of note, Mousa was married and had three young daughters.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA