Abdo Yousef Tamimi
Abdo Yousef Khatib Tamimi died in Israeli custody, with official reports citing a heart attack, while his family alleges he was tortured during interrogation.
Abdo Yousef Khatib Tamimi died on July 21, 2021, at the al-Maskobiyya detention center in Jerusalem. Israeli authorities stated that his death was due to a heart attack, but his family and Palestinian detainees claim he was tortured and beaten severely during interrogation, including being subjected to electric shocks. The family received testimonies from fellow prisoners that Abdo had been physically abused while in custody. His cousin reported that Abdo was beaten by soldiers and that the military detained seven of his relatives in response to protests over his death. The family strongly contested the official explanation and demanded an autopsy overseen by Palestinian medical professionals. Abdo was reportedly healthy prior to his arrest, which was for a minor traffic violation, making the circumstances of his death highly suspicious and a source of major controversy.
Biography
Abdo Yousef Khatib Tamimi was a 43-year-old Palestinian from Shu’fat refugee camp near Jerusalem. He died while in Israeli custody at the al-Maskobiyya detention center.
Abdo Yousef Khatib Tamimi lived in Shu’fat refugee camp near Jerusalem and was a married father of four children, with his wife pregnant at the time of his death. On July 21, 2021, Abdo died while being held in the al-Maskobiyya detention and interrogation facility in Jerusalem. He had been arrested days earlier, reportedly over a traffic citation and driving without a license. Palestinian sources, including the detainees’ committee, claimed that Abdo was tortured during interrogation, suffering severe beatings and electric shocks. Despite Israel’s official statement attributing his death to a heart attack, family members and fellow detainees reported that he was subjected to physical abuse. Following his death, seven of his relatives were detained for protesting. The Tamimi family demanded an independent autopsy with a Palestinian doctor present, asserting that Abdo had been healthy prior to his arrest. His death sparked outrage and intensified calls for accountability.
Additional Information
Sources & References
Abdo Yousef Khatib Tamimi, 43, died while in Israeli custody at the al-Maskobiyya detention center and interrogation facility in Jerusalem. His family said he was tortured while under interrogation. Hasan Abed-Rabbo, the media advisor of the Palestinian Detainees’ Committee, stated that Abdo Yousef Khatib Tamimi, 43, from Shu’fat refugee camp, died while being held at the interrogation center. According to Abed-Rabbo, Abdo Tamimi had been taken prisoner on Sunday, due to a traffic citation and because he was driving his car without a driver’s license. Abed-Rabbo held Israel fully responsible for his death, especially since the interrogation facility did not reveal sufficient information regarding his death, except for claiming that he suffered a heart attack.1 israelpalestinetimeline.org Open source