At least 75 Palestinians, including a 17-year-old, have died in Israeli detention since October 7, 2023, according to a report released Wednesday by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) covering the occupied Palestinian territories.

The report details that 49 of the deceased were from the Gaza Strip, 24 from the West Bank, and two were Palestinian citizens of Israel. Additionally, Israeli authorities acknowledged 19 deaths without providing sufficient details to verify the identities of the victims.

The OHCHR report also highlights five cases, including that of a 16-year-old, in which Palestinians died in custody shortly after being shot by Israeli security forces, some reportedly without receiving timely medical attention.

The report accuses Israeli authorities of systematically torturing Palestinian prisoners, subjecting them to deliberate ill-treatment, and denying them medical care. It states: “Israeli authorities have deliberately imposed conditions of detention that amount to torture or other forms of ill-treatment and that have contributed to the deaths of detainees, while the culture of impunity and the denial of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access have predictably fostered extreme violence against Palestinians in Israeli jails.”

According to OHCHR, documented abuses include repeated beatings, waterboarding, stress positions, sexual and gender-based violence, and deliberate denial of basic necessities such as food, clean clothing, hygiene, and medical care.

The report urges Israeli authorities to immediately end the systematic torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees and to ensure their right to life. It notes that at least 22 detainees who died had preexisting health conditions requiring medical attention, and in at least 12 cases, autopsies or testimonies indicate that deaths followed beatings or torture by Israeli security forces.

The office also condemned Israel’s refusal to comply with a September 7 High Court ruling requiring improvements in the quantity and quality of food provided to Palestinian prisoners, as well as attempts to conceal reports on detention conditions.

OHCHR warned that unless independent investigations meeting international standards are conducted for each incident, Israel remains responsible for all deaths in custody, some of which may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.

The report concluded by emphasizing that Israel must protect the lives of all prisoners, ensure access to adequate medical care, and guarantee regular inspections by independent bodies such as the ICRC, while allowing detainees access to families, lawyers, and the courts. (ILKHA)