Israel Returns Body of Palestinian Man Who Died in Detention

Israel returned the body of Rajaa Sammour, a Gaza Strip resident, on Thursday, three years after he died in Israeli military detention. Sammour, a father of four, had been working in Israel under a permit before it was revoked following the October 7th attacks. He was subsequently arrested during mass detentions of Gazans. His family was not officially notified of his death, learning of it from other detainees. They learned he died in detention under unclear circumstances shortly after his arrest.

The return of his body followed a lengthy legal battle by his family, aided by the organization Gisha-Koach. The legal effort began in November 2023, with Gisha demanding the body's return and an investigation into his death. In February 2026, they filed a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court, arguing that holding the body lacked legal basis and violated the family's rights.

During the legal proceedings, the state's handling of the case revealed significant discrepancies. Initially, authorities claimed the body might not be Sammour's, then confirmed it was, and that he died in detention. The military police had opened an investigation into his death, but a request for an autopsy was only made after the petition, without informing the family. The state initially misclassified Sammour as an "unlawful combatant," later acknowledging this was an error and that his detention was unjustified.

Sammour's family, including his minor children, were asked to provide DNA samples. The state informed the court on August 31st that they had found the body on August 13th, but requested a delay for further examination related to the ongoing investigation into his death, which had been open for nearly three years. Fearing the body could be lost again, the family urged its immediate return, even if it meant relinquishing the possibility of knowing the exact cause of death.

Gisha stated that Sammour's case is one of three involving Gazan residents who died in Israeli custody and whose bodies are being held. The organization's report, "Maltreatment After Death," details systemic failures, including providing incomplete or misleading information to families, delays in investigating deaths, and difficulties in locating and handling bodies. Gisha asserts that Israel continues to hold bodies of Gazans who died in detention without legal justification, potentially using them as bargaining chips.

Adel, Sammour's brother, described the pain of his nephews asking about their father and when they could say goodbye. Gisha added that while the return of the body allows the children to finally bid farewell, Israel remains responsible for violating international law and causing immense suffering. They called for a full investigation into Sammour's death, accountability for those responsible, and the return of all bodies held without legal basis.