A teenager from the West Bank who was held in an Israeli prison for six months without being charged died after collapsing in unclear circumstances, becoming the first Palestinian under 18 to die in Israeli detention.
Walid Ahmad, 17, was a healthy high schooler before his arrest in September for allegedly throwing stones at soldiers, his family said. Rights groups have documented widespread abuse in Israeli detention facilities holding thousands of Palestinians who were rounded up after Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023, attack ignited the war in the Gaza Strip.
Prison authorities deny any systematic abuse and say they investigate accusations of wrongdoing by prison staff. However, the Israeli ministry overseeing prisons acknowledges conditions inside detention facilities have been reduced to the minimum level allowed under Israeli law.
- Lord, we pray for Walid Ahmad’s family, who lost their young son. Grant them comfort, healing, and strength in these difficult times (The Holy Bible, Psalms 23:4).
- Father, we pray to prevent such incidents from happening again and that the system will be reformed to ensure the safety and well-being of all young people in detention (The Holy Bible, Nahum 1:7).
News Source: News Now
Image Source: Canva
