Palestinian officer dies during detention at Israeli checkpoint

Raafat Abu Khalil, a 45-year-old Palestinian security officer, died on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest while being detained at an Israeli military checkpoint east of Tulkarm in the West Bank.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, emergency crews arrived at the Ennab checkpoint to find Abu Khalil receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members reported that Abu Khalil, who worked for the Palestinian National Security Forces, was forced by Israeli soldiers to stand in direct sunlight for approximately one hour before the medical emergency occurred. Relatives alleged that Abu Khalil suffered a stroke following an assault by forces at the checkpoint.

The incident occurs amid increasing concerns regarding movement restrictions in the occupied West Bank. UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese has noted that expanding networks of checkpoints and barriers disrupt access to essential services such as healthcare and work. As of late 2025, the UN documented 925 checkpoints and obstacles affecting approximately 3.4 million Palestinians in the region.