They were forced to hand one son over to the Israeli army in return for another. Eight months later he was dead in prison
They were forced to hand one son over to the Israeli army in return for another. Eight months later he was dead in prison
The Tazaza family in the northern West Bank town of Qabatiya is still haunted by sorrow and remorse after their youngest son, Ahmad, died in Israel’s notorious Megiddo prison last August. Parents Najah Abdul Qader and Saeed Tazaza recount the painful exchange that led to their son’s fate.
The Detention and Exchange
Ahmad, a 20-year-old with no prior medical issues, was surrendered to Israeli authorities in January 2025 in the occupied West Bank. His parents claim they had no clear understanding of why he was targeted, though the situation mirrored the experiences of countless Palestinian youths detained under similar circumstances.
He was held as an administrative detainee, a method allowing indefinite imprisonment without formal charges, trials, or legal representation. Israeli Prison Service records show that by September 2025, 10,465 Palestinian men were classified as “security prisoners,” with 7,425 from the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Harassment and Threats
Over months, the Tazaza home became a frequent target of Israeli security forces. The family endured intimidation and threats, including the destruction of their property. “They smashed the house and destroyed everything,” Qader shared in a statement to Middle East Eye.
“He was not at home; he was working at the market and sleeping there that night. They took his brother and father. In the morning, they released them and said, ‘We want him’.”
A later call revealed an Israeli soldier had warned of bombing the house if Ahmad didn’t surrender. He had previously escaped by jumping from a vehicle as it was crushed by a bulldozer.
The Handover at Salem Checkpoint
After failing to locate Ahmad, Israeli forces detained his brother again. Saeed Tazaza recalled the moment his son was handed over: “They said: ‘We will not release him until you bring your [other] son.’ His brother is married with two children. So we told Ahmad we wanted to see him. We caught him and took him.”
Accompanied by his brother, Ahmad was delivered to the Salem checkpoint near Jenin. “We handed him over,” Qader said. “He looked at us and I knew he would not return. I felt he was not coming back when he turned his face and walked away.”
The Post-Mortem Report
Initially, the parents believed they had spared Ahmad by handing him over. “I handed my son over because I was afraid for him. I was afraid he would die,” his father explained. “We were forced, and we handed him over. What could we do? This is our fate.”
However, their hope was shattered when Ahmad died at age 21 in Megiddo prison on 3 August 2025, according to a post-mortem report obtained by Middle East Eye. The document, dated 8 August, was authored by a physician affiliated with Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI), a group that monitors autopsies of Palestinian prisoners when allowed by Israeli authorities.
The report noted that Ahmad had been “reported to be healthy” at the time of his detention. Yet his records show he suffered from diarrhoea and scabies, and had a sore throat before his death. On 2 August, an on-call doctor observed blood stains on his trousers, raising concerns about his condition.
“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 autopsy suggested possible signs of severe blood cancer, such as acute leukaemia or aggressive lymphoma. It ruled out sudden death causes. Yet with Ahmad’s body still held by Israeli authorities, his parents challenge the official account of his demise.
They had limited contact with him during his eight months in prison, relying instead on messages from fellow detainees. An International Committee of the Red Cross liaison officer informed them of his death, though the ICRChas not had access to Palestinians in the area to verify the details.
“I handed my son to my enemy. But that’s it. We wanted to protect him,” Qader reflected, her voice trembling with regret.
