Palestinian groups accuse Israel of torturing detainee to death

RAMALLAH, Palestine

Human rights groups on Thursday accused Israeli authorities of torturing a Palestinian detainee to death.

Abdu al-Khatib, 43, lost his life during interrogation at al-Moscobiyeh interrogation center in occupied East Jerusalem.

“Testimonies gathered from his families and other detainees show that he was electrified and beaten,” Amani Sarahneh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners Society NGO, told Anadolu Agency.

She said causes of the death will be determined after conducting an autopsy on al-Khatib’s body.

“Palestinian NGOs and Jerusalem governorate accuse Israel of killing al-Khatib,” Sarahneh said.

A father of four, al-Khatib, from Shufat refugee camp in East Jerusalem, was detained by Israeli forces for a traffic violation.

Around 4,850 Palestinians are estimated to be held in Israeli prisons, including 41 women, 225 children and 540 administrative detainees, according to Palestinian rights groups.

Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara