A Palestinian man imprisoned in Israel for 25 years dies in custody; allegations of medical negligence emerge

A Palestinian prisoner incarcerated for over two decades in an Israeli prison has died, according to an announcement from the Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office. He was Imad Rajih Serhan, 47, who had been held at Gilboa Prison since 2001 after being sentenced to life imprisonment.

According to the statement, Israeli authorities informed his family that he had died of a heart attack. No further details were provided regarding the exact circumstances of his death. Palestinian organizations, for their part, maintain that his health had deteriorated significantly over the years of his imprisonment.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office maintains that Imad Serhan suffered from serious cardiovascular problems and hypertension. According to the same source, he had been forced to use a wheelchair for several years due to his deteriorating health, while continuing to be detained in what were considered harsh conditions.

Palestinian organizations accuse the Israeli prison administration of medical negligence and ill-treatment. They believe the detainee's health has deteriorated as a result of years of interrogation, solitary confinement, and inadequate access to healthcare. They have called on international human rights organizations to investigate the case and intervene on behalf of Palestinian prisoners.

According to figures put forward by these organizations, the death of Imad Serhan brings to 90 the number of Palestinian prisoners whose deaths in Israeli custody have been reported since October 2023. They also state that 327 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli prisons since 1967.

In a statement of condolence, Hamas described Imad Serhan's death as "another consequence of medical negligence and torture." The group accused Israeli authorities of systematically denying medical care to Palestinian prisoners and held them responsible for his death.

Hamas also called on the international community and human rights organizations to take action to end alleged violations against Palestinian detainees. Israeli authorities have not publicly responded to these allegations, according to available reports.