Family of Palestinian 'beaten to death' in Israeli military custody seeks justice

The family of a Palestinian man who was allegedly beaten to death by Israeli soldiers while in custody have said they will take legal action in an international court.

The brother of Mohammad Rimawi told The New Arab's Arabic-language service on Tuesday that the family was seeking to press charges against the troops.

"We are now waiting to receive Mohammad's body then we will hold a press conference after his funeral to announce that we are going to an international court to try my brother's killers," Bashir Rimawi said.

Bashir warned that Israeli authorities could "manipulate" the cause of death on Mohammad's death certificate.

A week ago, Israeli soldiers stormed into the Rimawi family's home in the West Bank town of Beit Rima and brutally beat 24-year-old Mohammad while he was still in bed, his family says.

The troops ripped off his clothes and dragged him on the ground unconscious, towards a military vehicle. A few hours later, the family was informed of his death.

The Palestinian Prisoner's Society has condemned the killing and said it was caused by excessive beating by Israeli forces, Maan News reported.

The group said Rimawi was the third Palestinian allegedly tortured to death by Israeli forces so far this year.

Israel soldiers have long been accused of torturing and using excessive violence with the thousands of Palestinians it arrests each year in the occupied West Bank and along the Gaza Strip.