12 Prison Guards Charged in Negligent Homicide of Security Prisoner

The State Prosecution has filed an indictment against 12 Israel Prison Service (IPS) officers, accusing them of the negligent homicide of security prisoner Thair Abu A'asab and assaulting eight other inmates at Ketziot Prison. The indictment, filed with the Beersheba District Court, alleges that in November 2023, one of the defendants, serving as the shift commander, orchestrated an unprovoked assault on prisoners in their cell.

According to the charges, the commander, after being informed that Abu A'asab had inquired about a ceasefire, decided to use the prisoner's question as a pretext to demonstrate to inmates that there was no lull in the conflict. He briefed his subordinates, including guards, members of the "Keter" unit, and a dog handler, instructing them to enter the cell during the evening count to physically assault the prisoners. The commander explicitly stated he would take responsibility for the actions and warned female guards present not to enter the cell.

Once inside the cell, the 12 defendants allegedly attacked Abu A'asab and eight other inmates with batons, fists, and kicks. The shift commander also participated in the beatings. After several minutes, the commander ordered the assault to stop, and the officers left the cell without reporting the incident.

Shortly after the attack, Abu A'asab collapsed and lost consciousness. He was taken to the prison clinic and then to Soroka Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The indictment states his death resulted from the severe blows he sustained, causing critical damage to his heart and respiratory system. The other eight prisoners suffered significant injuries.