They were forced to hand one son over to the Israeli army in return for another. Eight months later he was dead in prison
Ahmad Tazaza’s Parents Grieve Over Son’s Death in Israeli Custody
Eight months after surrendering one of their sons to the Israeli military, the Tazaza family mourns the loss of Ahmad, who died in the Megiddo prison in August 2025. His parents, overwhelmed by sorrow, claim they were forced to make a desperate trade to secure his survival, only to witness his untimely demise.
Detention Without Trial
Ahmad, a 20-year-old with no prior medical issues, was handed over to Israeli authorities in January 2025 in the West Bank. His parents say they never understood why he was targeted, yet his ordeal mirrored that of countless Palestinian youths detained under administrative measures. These detentions allow indefinite imprisonment without charges, legal representation, or trial.
According to Israeli Prison Service records, 10,465 Palestinians were held as “security prisoners” by September 2025, including 7,425 from the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Ahmad’s case was part of this broader pattern.
A Family Under Pressure
Over months, the Tazaza home in Qabatiya, a northern West Bank town, became a focal point for Israeli security forces. The family endured repeated threats, intimidation, and the destruction of their property. “They smashed the house and destroyed everything,” said Najah Abdul Qader, Ahmad’s mother, in an interview with Middle East Eye.
She recounted how Israeli troops detained her brother and father one evening, demanding Ahmad’s surrender. “He was not at home; he was working at the market and sleeping there that night,” Qader explained. “They took him, and in the morning released his brother and father, saying, ‘We want him’.”
“An Israeli soldier had threatened to bomb the house if Ahmad didn’t turn himself in,” Qader added. “He’d barely escaped before by jumping from a car as it was crushed by a bulldozer.”
The Exchange and the Fate of the Youngest Brother
After failing to locate Ahmad, Israeli forces detained his brother again. Saeed Tazaza, the father, described the moment his son was handed over to authorities. “They said: ‘We will not release him until you bring your other son,’” he recalled. “His brother is married with two children. We told Ahmad we wanted to see him. We caught him and took him.”
At the Salem checkpoint near Jenin, Ahmad’s parents delivered him to Israeli custody. “He looked at us and I knew he would not return,” Qader said. “He turned his face and walked away. I felt he was going to die.”
They believed they were sparing him from greater danger. “We handed him over because we feared for his life,” his father stated. “We were forced. What could we do? This is our fate.”
Questions About the Cause of Death
Ahmad’s death, confirmed by a post-mortem report from Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) on August 8, 2025, has sparked further controversy. The report, conducted by a PHRI doctor, noted that Ahmad was described as healthy at the time of his detention. However, his prison records listed complaints of diarrhoea, scabies, and a sore throat in the days before his death.
On August 2, the on-call physician observed blood stains on his trousers. During a clinic visit, Ahmad asked to use the restroom and then collapsed, losing consciousness. Resuscitation efforts, including intubation and CPR, could not save him. The report raised questions about possible undiagnosed conditions, such as acute leukaemia or aggressive lymphoma, though no signs of sudden death were found.
Without access to his body, the parents challenge the official account. They relied on news shared by released prisoners, who told them of Ahmad’s fate. A liaison officer from the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed his death, though the ICRChas not been permitted to directly access Palestinian prisoners in recent months.
