Israeli prison service confirmed that Ihab Mohammed Abdel Qader Diab, 36, died while in custody, a statement communicated to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex‑Detainees Affairs on 7 July, nearly two years after his detention began.

Diab was arrested on 12 December 2023 and is believed to have died on 18 September 2024, after approximately nine months in detention. His family says he was healthy at the time of arrest and disputes Israeli statements that he suffered from an underlying health condition.

The commission reports that 328 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli custody since 1967, including 91 deaths since the outbreak of hostilities on 7 October 2023, of which 53 occurred in Gaza. Gaza’s Prisoners’ Ministry said it holds Israel responsible for the conditions that led to his death, citing allegations of torture, medical neglect and harsh detention practices, and called for an international investigation and the return of his body.

As of August, the human‑rights organization HaMoked estimated that Israel was holding nearly 8,000 “security” prisoners, of whom 3,198 were in administrative detention, a practice that allows indefinite renewal without formal charges. The figures exclude additional detainees classified by Israel as “unlawful combatants”.

The case adds to scrutiny of Israel’s detention system, under which thousands of Palestinians are held without charge or trial.