The number of Palestinian deaths in Israeli detention facilities has sharply increased amid the ongoing war in Gaza, according to a new report from Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI).

The report, released on November 17, 2025, documents at least 94 Palestinian deaths in Israeli custody since October 2023. The organization warned that the actual number is likely higher, particularly among detainees from Gaza.

“We are gravely concerned that the true scale of deaths in Israeli detention is significantly higher, especially for Palestinians held from Gaza,” the report stated.

Breakdown of Deaths and Detention Sites

Of the 94 deaths recorded:

• 68 occurred among Palestinians from Gaza
• 26 were from the West Bank or held Israeli citizenship

The report attributes 52 deaths to Israeli military prisons, while the remaining 42 were documented in facilities managed by the Israel Prison Service (IPS), including major prisons such as Ktzi’ot, Megiddo, Nitzan, and Ofer, as well as military bases like Sde Teiman.

PHRI highlighted that causes of death include physical violence—such as bruising, rib fractures, internal organ damage, and intracranial hemorrhages—as well as chronic medical neglect, malnutrition, and denial of necessary care.

Systematic Abuse and Enforced Disappearances

The surge in deaths coincides with large-scale detentions during Israel’s war in Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians have been taken into custody, often without communication to their families. PHRI described the detainees as effectively “disappeared”, noting that Israeli authorities have:

• Stopped sharing detainee information with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• Barred all access to detention sites for independent observers
• Refused to acknowledge the presence or deaths of many Palestinian prisoners

In some cases, families learned of their relatives’ deaths only through Israeli media reports, reflecting a systemic lack of transparency.

Case Highlight: Dr. Hussam Abu Safia

PHRI drew attention to Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, who was detained in December 2024. Israeli authorities initially denied any knowledge of his arrest, and his lawyer reports that he has been subjected to torture and humiliation.

Call for Independent Investigation

The human rights organization emphasized that the combination of enforced disappearance, institutional abuse, and cover-ups constitutes a grave violation of international and domestic law. PHRI called for an independent international investigation into the deaths of Palestinians in Israeli custody to ensure accountability and transparency.

“Given the grave conditions faced by Palestinians in Israeli incarceration facilities, and in light of Israel’s policies of enforced disappearance, systematic killing, and institutionalized cover-ups, PHRI calls for an independent international investigation into the deaths of Palestinians in Israeli custody,” the report concluded.

The report adds to a growing body of evidence documenting human rights abuses in Israeli detention facilities amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.