Report: 94 Palestinians Died in Israeli Custody in Less Than Two Years

A new report by Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) says 94 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli custody between October 2023 and August 2025 — a sharp rise compared to fewer than 30 deaths in the entire decade before the war.

PHRI accuses Israeli authorities of systematic abuse, medical neglect, and attempts to cover up deaths, claiming many detainees were held without charge and that families were often not informed when loved ones died.

The report highlights severe conditions, including alleged torture, widespread violence, and a policy of “forced disappearance” where Palestinians are detained without their families knowing their whereabouts. The Sde Teiman military prison recorded the highest number of deaths, with 29 cases.

Israeli authorities reject the accusations. The Israel Prison Service (ISP) says it operates legally and under oversight, while the IDF says all detentions comply with Israeli and international law and that each death is investigated.

PHRI warns the real number of deaths may be even higher, due to the lack of transparency and restricted access to detention facilities.