RAMALLAH, February 22, 2018 (WAFA) – A 33-year-old Palestinian identified as Yasin Omar Saradeeh from Jericho was pronounced dead shortly after Israeli forces detained him on Thursday morning apparently following clashes in Jericho, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS).

The Israeli army informed Saradeeh’s family of his death while in detention, claiming he suffered convulsions after inhaling tear gas fired by the Israeli army during confrontations.

Saradeeh’s family and witnesses said Israeli forces severely beat its son after detaining him and that he was in a good health before his arrest and did not suffer from any health problem.

Issa Qaraqe, head of the Palestinian Authority’s Detainees Commission, told Voice of Palestine that Saradeeh apparently died from severe beating to the head, describing the incident as “a crime, execution and premeditated murder at the hands of occupation forces, which reflect the level of brutality and terrorism of the soldiers.”

He said an autopsy will be carried on Saradeeh; one in Israel’s Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, which will be attended by a Palestinian pathologist following Israel’s agreement to his participation, and the second at a Palestinian hospital after Israel returns his body to his family.

The PPS said 213 Palestinians, including Saradeeh, were killed by Israel after their arrest since the 1967 occupation.

It said 75 died as a result of premeditated murder, 7 were shot dead while in detention, 59 from medical negligence and 72 from torture.

C.K./M.K.