12 Prison Guards Charged in Death of Palestinian Prisoner

The Southern District Prosecutor's Office has filed indictments against 12 Israel Prison Service (IPS) officers, accusing them of causing the death of security prisoner Thaer Abu Assab through negligence and assaulting eight other inmates at Ketziot Prison. The indictment, filed in the Beersheba District Court, details events from November 18, 2023, when Abu Assab, held in the same wing as eight other prisoners, inquired about a "ceasefire" in the ongoing war.

According to the charges, the shift commander, who was responsible for inmate counts, informed his unit of Abu Assab's question. Exceptionally, the commander then directed the accused officers, including guards and members of the "Keter" unit, to enter the cell during the evening count to demonstrate that there was no ceasefire. The commander allegedly stated he would take responsibility for what happened and warned female guards present not to enter the cell to avoid harm.

The indictment alleges that the commander led the force into the cell and ordered the officers to assault the prisoners. The accused are said to have agreed to attack the inmates with punches, kicks, and batons. The commander himself also allegedly assaulted at least one prisoner. After several minutes, the commander ordered the force to stop, and they left the cell without reporting the assault or any unusual incident.

Shortly after, Abu Assab collapsed, lost consciousness, and was taken to the prison clinic and then Soroka Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The indictment states his death resulted from the blows, causing severe heart and respiratory injuries. The other eight prisoners sustained actual physical injuries.

In a separate charge, the shift commander and a sergeant are accused of obstructing justice. The sergeant allegedly instructed a guard to lie about the use of batons during the police investigation. The shift commander is also accused of asking another guard to coordinate a female guard's story with the other defendants after his own interrogation. The female guard initially provided a false account but later admitted to lying and gave her version of events.

All 12 defendants are charged with causing death by negligence, causing serious injury under aggravated circumstances, and committing multiple offenses of causing actual injury under aggravated circumstances. The shift commander and sergeant face additional charges of obstructing justice.