Palestinian prisoner dies in solitary confinement in Israeli jail

A Palestinian prisoner held in solitary confinement in an Israeli prison has died barely a month after his arrest, his family has said.

Nassar Taqatqa, 31, was arrested on June 19 after Israeli forces raided his family home in the village of Beit Fajjar south of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem.

He was initially taken to the notorious Jalameh interrogation centre, where detainees have previously reported being subjected to physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Israeli officers. Two weeks later, he was transferred to the Nitzan prison in al-Ramleh and placed in solitary confinement, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies.

"We were shocked to learn of his death this morning," his cousin Mohammed Taqatqa told Al Jazeera on Tuesday, adding that the family was waiting to find out more information.

"We still haven't received his body but an autopsy will be conducted to find out the cause of death."