'Tortured' Palestinian prisoner arrested on suspicion of killing Israeli jailer

Israeli authorities have arrested a Palestinian man on suspicion of involvement in the killing of an Israeli prison officer who once tortured him, local media said on Monday.

Ibrahim Mansour, from the village of Bidu near Tulkarm, was arrested on July 10, two days after the body of prison service employee Yochai Avni was found, police said in joint statement with the Shin Bet security services.

Information regarding the arrest was only available for publication on Monday, The Times of Israel said.

Palestinian media said Mansour was a victim of imprisonment and torture in Ofer Prison where Avni worked just three months ago, and was a victim of abuse and torture.

Avni, according to Israeli and Palestinian media, was a dog handler in Ofer Prison, one of Israel’s most notorious jails where Palestinians are held in administrative detention without trial. Scores of detainees over the years have spoken of the torture and abuse they were subject to in the prison.

Mansour is believed to have been held for a long time, as is common in Israeli jails. His remand in custody following his 10 July arrest has been extended until 29 July, as police and the Shin Bet continue the investigation.

Avni killing reportedly took place in the Israeli man’s home in the settlement of Giv’on HaHadasha, near Ramallah, West Bank. Concerns were reportedly raised over the 40-year-old's absence from work by his colleagues, who then went to his home to check on him.

The Times of Israel said the colleagues saw smoke billowing from the home, prompting them to call firefighters. His body was then found later with multiple stab wounds.

Hamas issued a statement on the incident, The New Arab's Arabic-language site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported, calling it "a natural response to the occupation’s crimes against prisoners".

The group said: "The crimes of the Zionist occupation against our heroic prisoners in its prisons have not and will not go without accountability, and the heroes of our people who reject injustice will teach them what they deserve."

Avni’s killing and Mansour being able to enter Giv’on HaHadasha have raised questions over Israel’s security capabilities, as settlements – illegal under international law – are heavily guarded and secured by Israeli soldiers 24 hours a day.

Thousands of prisoners are held across Israeli jails in the Palestinian territories and Israel, many under administrative detention, with the number of those detained increasing dramatically since the start of Israel's deadly military operation in Gaza, over nine months ago.