The Gaza Ministry of Detainees has condemned the death of a Hamas leader, Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara, in Israeli custody, saying it was a result of torture and deliberate medical negligence.

The ministry said on Friday in a statement that Israeli authorities have subjected Palestinian detainees to inhumane conditions and systematic assault.

Describing it as an ugly, slow death, the ministry pointed out that this is something unnoticed by international organizations.

Hamas reacted as well, saying it was another Israeli assassination through deliberate medical neglect.

 The movement added that the heinous crime is in line with Israel’s war of extermination and systematic killings of Palestinian figures.

Son of the deceased Hamas leader, Zeid Abu Ara, stated that denying necessary medical services and appropriate food to a sick prisoner constitutes execution.

Palestinians have held a funeral for the deceased Hamas leader, mourning his passing.

“The occupation deliberately induces famine inside the prison as it does outside in the areas of the Strip,” the Ministry of Prisoners and Freed Prisoners said in a separate statement on Friday.

“A recently released prisoner from the occupation’s prisons reported that the food provided is not sufficient at all for the huge numbers of prisoners and is served without salt, causing each prisoner to lose more than half their weight in prison,” it added.

“The ministry also demands an urgent and immediate halt to such practices, the rapid release of all prisoners and detainees from the occupation’s prisons, and the prosecution of the occupation leaders in international courts for committing crimes against humanity,” the statement added.

Last month, Israel freed Dr. Aziz Dweik, the chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council, after keeping him in prison for about 9 months.

Dr. Dweik told reporters on June 14 that Israel was carrying out “the massacre in the prisons.”

Other prisoners said that Israelis severely beat the elderly Palestinian politician during his long illegal detention.