News|Israel-Palestine conflictYoung Palestinian dies in Israeli custody, dozens taken in West Bank raidsDeath of 21-year-old raises alarm as rights groups document systematic torture in detention facilities, as Israel accelerates violence in occupied territory.
A young Palestinian, Abdul Rahman al-Sabateen, 21, from Husan near Bethlehem, has died while in Israeli custody. He passed away at a Jerusalem medical facility on Tue, Dec 9, 2025, following his arrest by Israeli soldiers in late June, according to the…
A young Palestinian, Abdul Rahman al-Sabateen, 21, from Husan near Bethlehem, has died while in Israeli custody. He passed away at a Jerusalem medical facility on Tue, Dec 9, 2025, following his arrest by Israeli soldiers in late June, according to the Palestinian Authority.
His family reported no signs of illness during their last visit on Nov 25. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office stated that over 100 Palestinians were arrested in the West Bank during dawn raids on Wed, Dec 10, 2025. These operations focused on cities like Nablus, where approximately 30 individuals were detained, and Silwad, with another 24 taken into custody. Witnesses reported that soldiers entered homes and confiscated belongings.
Al-Sabateen's death increases the number of Palestinians who have died in Israeli detention since Oct 2023 to at least 94, as reported by Physicians for Human Rights – Israel. The organization has documented instances of systematic torture, including beatings, medical neglect, and starvation. The United Nations human rights office has confirmed at least 75 deaths during the same period, attributing the conditions to torture or other forms of ill-treatment.
Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank since the beginning of the Gaza conflict. Settler attacks have also increased significantly. UN data indicates that more than 700 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli settlers this year, doubling the total from 2024. October alone recorded 264 settler attacks, the highest monthly number since tracking began in 2006.
A young Palestinian, Abdul Rahman al-Sabateen, 21, from Husan near Bethlehem, has died while in Israeli custody.
This violence aligns with an aggressive settlement expansion. On Wed, Dec 10, 2025, Israeli authorities approved 764 new housing units in three West Bank settlements. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who opposes a two-state solution, described this as a continuation of "the revolution." Far-right ministers advocate for the full annexation of occupied territories, a move opposed by the United States, European, and Arab and Muslim nations.
Since late 2022, more than 51,000 settlement units have been authorized. Human Rights Watch reported last month that Israeli forces displaced 32,000 Palestinians from three refugee camps earlier this year, actions characterized as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watch’s Israel and Palestine director, likened the displacement to a second Nakba.
A psychologist working with Doctors Without Borders in Hebron described the growing psychological impact on Palestinians, stating they are "preparing themselves for loss" rather than future planning. The Wafa news agency reported that approximately 190 settlers, accompanied by Israeli forces, entered the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Wed, Dec 10, 2025. Such incursions have become increasingly frequent.
Under a longstanding status-quo arrangement, only Muslims may worship at the site, while Jews can visit but not pray. These events continue amidst escalating tensions in the region.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
