12 Prison Guards Charged in Death of Security Prisoner Weeks After Oct. 7

The State Prosecutor's Office has indicted 12 Israel Prison Service officers on charges of negligent homicide and assault, stemming from the death of security prisoner Thair Abu A'asab and the severe beating of eight other inmates at Ketziot Prison. The incident occurred in November 2023, approximately a month after the October 7th Hamas attacks, and is alleged to have been an act of revenge for the deaths of Druze soldiers in the war.

According to the indictment, the commander of the shift at the time, along with other guards, unit fighters, and a dog handler, entered the cell of Abu A'asab and eight other prisoners during the evening count. The shift commander had been informed that Abu A'asab had asked if there was a "hudna" (ceasefire) in the war. He instructed his subordinates to enter the cell during the count to show the prisoners there was no ceasefire, taking responsibility for any consequences and warning female guards present not to enter.

The indictment states that the defendants collectively assaulted the prisoners with fists, kicks, and clubs, causing severe injuries. The shift commander also participated in the beatings. Shortly after the assault, Abu A'asab collapsed and lost consciousness. He was evacuated to the prison clinic and then to Soroka Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The indictment attributes his death to the blows he sustained, which caused critical damage to his heart and respiratory system. The other eight prisoners suffered significant injuries.

In addition to the assault and homicide charges, the shift commander and a sergeant are accused of obstruction of justice. The sergeant allegedly instructed a guard to lie about the use of clubs during the police investigation. The shift commander is accused of attempting to coordinate the testimony of a female guard who had not yet been questioned. While she initially provided a false account, she later admitted to lying and provided her true version of events.