An Israeli judge has closed the investigation into the death of 17-year-old Palestinian detainee Walid Ahmad, ruling that although evidence showed he had been starved, the exact cause of death could not be determined. The newly unsealed decision stated that while his severe malnutrition was clear, it could not be definitively linked to a criminal act.

Ahmad collapsed in March 2025 after spending six months in Megiddo prison following his arrest in the occupied West Bank for allegedly throwing stones. An autopsy found extreme malnutrition, inflammation of the colon, and scabies, with starvation described as the likely leading cause of death. However, the judge concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish a direct causal connection between his condition and his death.

The case has drawn attention to Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees, particularly minors. Rights groups have reported worsening prison conditions since the start of the war in October 2023, citing inadequate food, overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited medical care. Ahmad’s family is still seeking the return of his body, which remains in Israeli custody.