Two Palestinian prisoners, Sameeh Eleiwi from Nablus and Anwar Esleem from Gaza, have died in Israeli custody, sparking renewed accusations of systematic abuse and medical negligence by Israeli authorities. 

According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Society and the Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Commission (PACC), Eleiwi, 61, passed away on November 6, 2024, just six days after being transferred from Ramleh Prison clinic to Assaf Harofeh Hospital. Detained in October 2023, he had a history of serious health conditions, including a benign intestinal tumor requiring surgeries. His deteriorating health was reportedly exacerbated by harsh treatment and inadequate medical care during his imprisonment. 

Eleiwi’s family and legal representatives revealed that he had lost over 40 kilograms, was unable to eat properly, and had been shackled during medical transfers. Despite his urgent need for surgery, he did not receive the necessary medical attention. 

Esleem, 44, died on November 14, 2024, while being transferred from Negev Prison to Soroka Hospital. Unlike Eleiwi, Esleem had no prior health issues before his detention in December 2023. His health declined rapidly, reportedly due to the denial of proper medical care during his incarceration. 

Both men had endured multiple arrests by Israeli authorities throughout their lives. Eleiwi had spent nearly a decade in Israeli prisons since 1988 and was a father of nine. Esleem, a father of four, had also faced numerous detentions. 

The PACC and the Palestinian Prisoners' Society condemned the deaths as part of Israel’s policy of "slow death" against Palestinian detainees, citing torture, medical negligence, and systematic deprivation of basic needs as tools of collective punishment. These practices, they said, have resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinian prisoners over the years. 

“These deaths reflect a decades-long pattern of abuse in Israeli prisons, where denial of medical care and physical mistreatment are used to punish detainees,” the organizations stated. 

The groups called for international accountability, urging global actors to pressure Israel to uphold its obligations under international law. They described the treatment of Palestinian prisoners as a flagrant violation of human rights and the Geneva Conventions, demanding immediate reforms to protect detainees’ rights and lives. (ILKHA)