Palestinian Abductee Succumbs to Death One Week Post-Release from Israeli Detention
Khaled al-Saifi, a Palestinian educator and former detainee from the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, has passed away merely a week following his release from Israeli custody.
The Commission of Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society jointly declared on Monday that al-Saifi’s health condition was critical at the time of his release, after enduring a four-month period of arbitrary administrative detention.
Reports indicate that the prison authorities administered an injection, allegedly for influenza, which resulted in severe inflammation. This was followed by the administration of another injection, necessitating his transfer to the Ramleh Prison Clinic.
The two organizations have declared that the case exemplifies what they describe as Israel’s policy of “gradual execution” concerning detainees, highlighting that his release was secured only when it became evident that his health had deteriorated significantly.
Sources have reported that al-Saifi, the founder and director of the Ibda’a Cultural Center and a prominent cultural, social, and political figure within the Dheisheh camp, has faced persistent targeting by the occupying forces.
Despite his advanced age and deteriorating health, he has been subjected to administrative detention on two occasions since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, without being formally charged or tried. Prisoner advocacy groups assert that this indicates an intention by Israel to physically eliminate him.
The announcement noted that Al-Saifi had faced multiple abductions starting from the 1980s. He is among thousands of former detainees who endured prolonged imprisonment under the administrative detention system, a practice that has seen a significant increase since the onset of the conflict.
Israel is currently detaining over 3,380 individuals under administrative detention without charge or trial, including women and children, with the support of military courts.
The organizations emphasized that the ordeal does not conclude upon release, as numerous former captives endure significant physical and psychological damage. They often necessitate intricate medical interventions and continue to grapple with chronic illnesses and trauma stemming from torture and mistreatment.
The responsibility for al-Saifi’s death has been attributed entirely to the Israeli regime, with claims that the act was intentional. Additionally, it was highlighted that over 100 abductees have lost their lives since the onset of the conflict—87 of whom have been identified—while numerous others continue to be forcibly disappeared. This situation reportedly persists amid ongoing policies and legislation that critics argue promote the execution of those abducted.
The situation faced by Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody raises significant alarm, with reports highlighting inadequate hygiene standards. Furthermore, these individuals are subjected to continuous torture, mistreatment, and a pattern of systemic oppression.
Palestinian detainees have frequently participated in extended hunger strikes to protest what they view as unjust incarceration.
Human rights organizations allege that Israel continues to violate the rights and freedoms afforded to detainees as stipulated by the Fourth Geneva Convention and international law.
