Hamas Leader Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara Dies in Israeli Custody

A senior Hamas leader in the West Bank, Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara, has died while in Israeli custody, Palestinian authorities reported on Friday. The 63-year-old leader’s death was announced in a joint statement by the Palestinian Authority’s prisoners affairs body and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club watchdog.

According to the statement, Abu Ara passed away after being transferred from a prison in southern Israel to a hospital. The statement from Hamas mourned his passing, accusing Israel of his “assassination through deliberate medical neglect.” Abu Ara was arrested in October despite suffering from severe health problems. During his detention, he was allegedly subjected to torture and starvation, as reported by the Palestinian body and the watchdog.

Israel’s military has yet to respond to the request for comment on these allegations. Earlier this month, Palestinian authorities accused Israel of waging an abusive “war of revenge” against Palestinian detainees since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Israeli military, however, rejected claims of systematic abuse, asserting that it operates within international law.