Two Palestinian prisoners tortured to death at notorious Israeli Sde Teiman base

Two Palestinians who were abducted by Israeli forces died from torture in detention, Palestinian rights groups and Gaza authorities confirmed on Thursday.

Shujaiya refugee camp resident Islam al-Sarsawi, 42, was taken by Israeli forces to the notorious Sde Teiman detention facility where he was tortured and killed in March, the Commission of Detainees’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a statement.

Earlier reports had indicated al-Sarsawi's death, however the statement said recent information had confirmed his passing.

“Al-Sarsawi is among dozens of detainees who have lost their lives in Israeli prisons and detention camps. The Israeli authorities continue to conceal their identities,” the statement said.

“He was arrested alongside many others during the initial raid on Al-Shifa Hospital, and their whereabouts remained undisclosed due to enforced disappearance,” it continued.

The Sde Teiman facility where al-Sarsawi was held is the subject of an internal Israeli probe, amid allegations of rape, sexual abuse and torture committed by soldiers against detainees.

Earlier this week, nine soldiers were detained by Israeli authorities after reports that a prisoner was assaulted and raped. The prisoner, who was was hospitalised with severe injuries to his anus and was unable to walk, was returned to Sde Teiman by Israel.

The arrests of the Israeli soldiers resulted in protests at the base by far-right Israelis including politicians and cabinet ministers who demanded that there be no accountability for the soldiers' actions.

At least 36 detainees have died in the facility, where thousands of Palestinian detainees from Gaza have passed through, since 7 October.

Also on Thursday, the Gaza Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees confirmed the death of 26-year-old Jabalia refugee camp resident Omar Junaid.

The ministry was informed by Junaid's father, Abdul Aziz, that he had received a call from Israeli human rights group HaMoked, who said that he had died on 17 June due to severe torture.

Junaid was abducted from Jabalia along with his brother by Israeli forces on 24 December. His brother was released in April.

“We sought help from many human rights organizations inside and outside Gaza to find out his fate. However, we received no answer because Israeli authorities refused to provide any information about him,” Abdul Aziz said.

“Last May, we contacted HaMoked, which in turn filed a petition with an Israeli court,” he added.

Junaid's family have urged Israel to release his body for burial in Gaza.