A 17-year-old from the West Bank died in an Israeli prison, becoming the 63rd Palestinian and first minor to die in detention since October 7, 2023. The youth was held for six months without charges prior to his death.

Walid Ahmad’s family reports that he was a healthy high schooler when he was arrested by Israeli forces in September. He was accused of throwing stones, but was held in detention without charges.

His cause of death is unclear, and Israel has a policy of withholding the bodies of Palestinians who die in Israeli prisons from their relatives. Ahmad’s family believes he collapsed and hit his head near the end of March due to amoebic dysentery from the deprivation he was subjected to by his Israeli captors.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has bragged that he has made living conditions worse for the Palestinians detained in facilities under his control. Many are held under administrative detention and deprived of the due process that the Bill of Rights provides to Americans.

He has also suggested executing prisoners to make room for new detainees.

Ahmad was held in the Megiddo Prison, which has become notorious for abuse and torture. “Detainees and prisoners at Megiddo Prison in northern Israel have reported several cases of harsh violence and abuse carried out by prison wardens,” Haaretz reported. The torture included “guards kicking, punching, hitting their testicles, and humiliating prisoners. Some testified that a prisoner who was beaten died of his injuries.”

In February, Khaled Mahmoud Qasim Abdullah, a 41-year-old detainee from Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, died at the same facility. He, too, was reportedly held without charges before his death, and family members said he was also in good health prior to his capture.

Released Palestinians and international rights organizations have reported widespread Israeli abuse of detainees by prison guards, including sexual assault, torture, beating, and medical neglect.