Israel hands over body of Palestinian teen who died in custody

Israeli authorities have handed over the body of Walid Khaled Ahmad, a 17-year-old Palestinian detainee who died in Megiddo Prison in March 2025. Reports say he had been held for six months and died after being deprived of food and medical treatment; the handover followed legal efforts by his lawyer.

Testimonies gathered by Defence for Children International say Ahmad became dizzy and collapsed on 22 March, and that guards did not respond when detainees called for help. An Israeli court closed its investigation in December 2025, saying it had exhausted all avenues, though it found indications he had been starved. The authorities continue to withhold the bodies of 98 Palestinian prisoners who have died in custody since 1967.