The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and its Florida chapter (CAIR-FL) today reiterated their call for the release of U.S. teenager Mohammed Ibrahim from Israeli detention after new reports of a sharp spike in deaths of Palestinian detainees in Israeli detention centers.
Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) said almost 100 Palestinian prisoners, mostly from Gaza were confirmed to have died since October 2023. The group said the true number of deaths could be “significantly higher.”
“This report exposes a deeply concerning pattern of systematic human rights violations committed against Palestinians detained by Israel and classified as ‘security prisoners’, carried out as part of an official policy implemented by Israeli authorities since October 2023. Testimonies, official records, and extensive evidence collected by Physicians for Human Rights–Israel (PHRI) and other organizations indicate that, alongside Israel’s perpetration of genocide in Gaza, authorities have also waged an unprecedented assault on detained Palestinians.”
That report is consistent with a similar finding by The Associated Press, which stated in part:
“The picture that emerges from the report by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel is consistent with findings by The Associated Press, which interviewed more than a dozen people about prison abuses, medical neglect and deaths, analyzed available data, and reviewed reports of autopsies. AP spoke with a former guard and a former nurse at one prison, an Israeli doctor who treated malnourished prisoners brought to his hospital, former detainees and their relatives, and lawyers representing them and rights groups.”
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“These latest reports describe horrifying conditions and an alarming surge in deaths among Palestinian detainees and indicate widespread, systematic and unlawful treatment of prisoners that should shock the conscience of the international community.
“We reiterate our demand for the immediate release of American teenager Mohammed Ibrahim, currently being unjustly held and abused by Israel.
“We also call on the Trump administration, the United Nations and all international human rights bodies to demand full access to Israeli detention facilities, to insist on independent investigations and to hold accountable any officials responsible for torture, abuse, or neglect.”
Last week, CAIR welcomed the introduction of H.Res. 876, the “Resolution Recognizing the Genocide of the Palestinian People in Gaza,” championed by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) and joined by 20 original co-sponsors recognizing that the Israeli government is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
TAKE ACTION Send a message to Congress today urging them to support Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s historic resolution, thank the courageous lawmakers who have already taken a stand, and call on the Senate to introduce a companion bill.
CAIR ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Recognize the Gaza Genocide
CLICK HERE: Read the Resolution
SEE: Tlaib Introduces Resolution Recognizing the Genocide of the Palestinian People in Gaza
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CONTACT: Wilfredo A. Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Communications Director, (305) 502-6749, wruiz@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com