ICHR Calls for International Scrutiny on Detainee Deaths and Conditions in Israeli Prisons

In light of the ongoing retaliatory measures and punitive actions taken by the Israeli Prison Service against Palestinian detainees since the beginning of the Gaza Strip assault, Palestine Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) is calling for a comprehensive international investigation. We are deeply concerned about the tragic and mysterious deaths of Mr. Omar Draghmeh, aged 58, at Megiddo Prison, and Mr. Arafat Hamdan, aged 25, at Ofer Prison. Both individuals tragically lost their lives within a 24-hour window under uncertain circumstances.

Omar Draghma and Arafat Hamdan, who recently lost their lives in Israeli detention facilities, were arrested in the wake of the events of October 7th in Gaza. Their arrests are part of a broader pattern of widespread and systematic detentions spearheaded by the occupation forces. Since October 7th, over 1,265 individuals from various regions of the occupied West Bank have been detained.

The sad reality is that with the passing of Arafat Hamdan and Omar Draghma, the death toll of the prisoner movement has climbed to 239 since 1967. It's even more disheartening that 12 of these martyrs are still not laid to rest, their bodies held by the occupation, as confirmed by the Prisoner Affairs Commission.

ICHR gravely emphasizes the seriousness of the situation, especially the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths of Arafat Hamdan and Omar Draghma in the Israeli detention centers. We are urging both the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization to uphold their responsibilities towards Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It is imperative to dispatch an international team to inspect these facilities firsthand, understand the prisoners' conditions, and strive to alleviate their hardships.