They were forced to hand one son over to the Israeli army in return for another. Eight months later he was dead in prison

Parents Grieve as Son Dies in Israeli Custody

Ahmad Tazaza’s parents endure profound sorrow and remorse following their son’s death in August 2025 at Megiddo prison, an Israeli detention facility linked to harsh conditions. The loss has left them questioning the circumstances of his imprisonment and the fate they believed they were sparing by sacrificing another family member.

Detention in the West Bank

Ahmad, a 20-year-old with no prior medical issues, was surrendered to Israeli forces in January 2025 in the occupied West Bank. His family, residents of Qabatiya in the northern region, had been subjected to repeated raids and threats by security personnel seeking him. Despite these pressures, they were uncertain why their youngest brother was targeted among thousands of Palestinian youths detained under similar circumstances.

Forced Exchange and Harassment

Ahmad’s father, Saeed Tazaza, recounted how Israeli troops detained his brother a second time and demanded the return of Ahmad. “They said: ‘We will not release him until you bring your [other] son,’” he shared. His brother, already married with two children, was used as leverage. The family’s home had been ransacked, with belongings destroyed, according to Najah Abdul Qader, Ahmad’s mother.

“They smashed the house and destroyed everything,” said Qader. “He was not at home; he was working at the market and sleeping there that night. They took his brother and his father. In the morning, they released them and said, ‘We want him.’”

Earlier, Qader described how an Israeli soldier had threatened to bomb the family’s home if Ahmad did not surrender voluntarily. He had narrowly avoided capture before, escaping by jumping from a vehicle as it was crushed by a bulldozer. After months of failed searches, the Israeli forces finally detained Ahmad.

Prison Conditions and Medical Findings

During his eight-month imprisonment, Ahmad’s parents had no direct contact with him, relying instead on information relayed by fellow detainees. A post-mortem report, dated 8 August 2025, analyzed his death and noted he was described as healthy at the time of arrest. His medical records mentioned diarrhoea, scabies, and a sore throat, with bloodstains observed on his trousers during a clinic visit on 2 August.

“During the clinic visit, Mr Tazaza requested to go to the toilet and later collapsed to the floor, losing consciousness and vital signs. Resuscitation attempts were initiated, but despite intubation and CPR, he was pronounced dead,” the report stated.

The findings suggested possible signs of severe blood cancer, such as acute leukaemia or aggressive lymphoma, ruling out sudden death causes. However, the Israeli authorities still hold Ahmad’s body, preventing his parents from confirming the details of his demise.

Parents’ Regret and Fear

Qader expressed deep regret over surrendering Ahmad, calling it an act of handing him over to death. “I handed my son to my enemy,” she said, “but that’s it. We wanted to protect him.” Her husband echoed this sentiment, stating he gave up his son out of fear for his safety. “I was afraid he would die,” he explained, “and we were forced to hand him over. What could we do? This is our fate.”

Despite their efforts, the family’s hope for Ahmad’s release was extinguished when he vanished from their lives. “He looked at us and I knew he would not return,” Qader recalled. “He turned his face and walked away.”