By Lucy Adautin
Hamas leader in the West Bank has died while in Israeli custody, according to reports from Palestinian authorities and the militant group on Friday.
Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara, 63, passed away after being transferred from a southern Israeli prison to a hospital, according to a joint statement from the Palestinian Authority’s prisoners affairs body and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club watchdog.
“We mourn the passing of the leader and prisoner Sheikh Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara and hold the occupation responsible for his assassination through deliberate medical neglect,” Hamas said in a statement.
Abu Ara was arrested in October while experiencing severe health issues, according to the Palestinian body and the watchdog.
They claimed he was subjected to torture and starvation during his detention. Israel’s military has not yet responded to requests for comment.
This month, Palestinian authorities accused Israel of conducting an abusive “war of revenge” against Palestinian detainees since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war.
In response, the Israeli military denied the allegations, stating it “rejects outright claims of systematic abuse of detainees” and asserting that its actions comply with international law.
