JERUSALEM: Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara, a prominent Hamas leader in the West Bank, has died while in Israeli custody, according to a Palestinian government body. The Palestinian Commission of Detainees Affairs reported that Abu Ara, aged 63, passed away after being moved from Ramon jail in southern Israel to a hospital. The commission claimed that Abu Ara was already suffering from serious health problems before his arrest in October 2023 and alleged that he was subjected to torture and denied necessary medical treatment during his detention.

The commission's statement highlighted that Abu Ara's health condition worsened significantly while in custody. They criticized the treatment he received, stating, "From the moment of his arrest, Sheikh Abu Ara, like all prisoners, has faced unprecedented crimes since the beginning of the war of extermination."

The death of Abu Ara adds to a troubling trend, with at least 18 Palestinians reported to have died in Israeli custody since the onset of the Gaza conflict on October 7. The conflict has also seen significant casualties, with Hamas-led attacks resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of over 250 individuals, according to Israeli figures. As of now, about 120 hostages remain in captivity, with Israel estimating that a third of them may have died.

Gaza's health authorities report that over 39,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, which has displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. The ongoing violence has devastated much of the Gaza Strip, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.

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