A 17-year-old Palestinian boy, Walid Khalid Ahmad, tragically died in an Israeli prison after what experts suspect was severe malnutrition. His death on March 22 in Megiddo Prison marks a grim milestone: he is the first minor to die in Israeli custody amid the ongoing conflict that erupted between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS).
Walid was arrested on September 30, 2022, at his family home in Silwad, a town in the occupied West Bank. His father, Khalid, claimed that Walid was detained for alleged past offenses, including throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, all of which the family denies. Adding to their distress, the PPS mentioned that Walid had not been formally charged, and his court hearings faced numerous delays.
Just five days after his death, an autopsy conducted at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute revealed alarming signs of malnutrition. According to the report, Walid showed extensive weight and muscle loss. The findings suggested that he had suffered from “extreme, likely prolonged malnutrition,” which can also heighten the risk of severe infections.
Despite the serious nature of the findings, there was no immediate response from Israeli authorities regarding the justification for Walid’s arrest and detention. The PPS indicated that Walid was not only the first minor to die in custody since the current conflict began but also the first since 1967. This claim, however, requires further verification.
The PPS reports that at least 63 Palestinians have died in Israeli detention since the conflict escalated. Among them, 40 were from Gaza. This shows a significant increase in fatalities and raises questions about the treatment of those held in Israeli facilities. The Israeli Prison Service responded to the reports, stating they summoned a medical team to address Walid’s health condition upon receiving initial reports.
Khalid explained that on the night of the arrest, Israeli forces forcefully entered their home. Court hearings regarding Walid’s case were conducted remotely, limiting the family’s ability to engage fully in the legal process. As of now, Israeli authorities are still holding on to Walid’s body.
Despite being an active young athlete with no known health issues prior to his detention, Walid’s ordeal in custody appears to have changed everything. Khalid expressed disbelief over the loss of his son, stating, “Walid was a young man with great values. What happened was unexpected.”
The PPS and the Commission on Detainees’ Affairs highlighted that this incident underscores the dire conditions faced by detainees in Israeli prisons, particularly children. Reports indicate that arrests in the West Bank have surged since the conflict began, with approximately 15,700 individuals detained to date.
The debate surrounding these events has led to a wider discourse on the treatment of prisoners in conflict zones. Experts suggest that addressing the humanitarian aspects of such situations is essential to fostering a peaceful resolution. User reactions on social media reflect an outpouring of outrage and calls for justice, emphasizing the need for accountability and improved conditions in detention facilities.
To learn more about the situation of Palestinian detainees, you can read reports from human rights organizations and news outlets like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
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