The Israeli army said in a statement on Friday that the Palestinian man who died on Thursday while in Israeli custody may have died from tear gas inhalation, not from being beaten by Israeli soldiers, as reported by Palestinian media.

A ninety-second video was released showing the Israeli army heavily beating the 33-year-old Palestinian man, identified as Yaseen al-Saradeeh.

In the video, several soldiers were seen kicking and beating Saradeeh with rifles, while he laid motionless on the ground.

The Israeli statement added that al-Saradeeh's health condition only deteriorated after he was later exposed to tear gas fired by soldiers trying to disperse Palestinian protesters.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Syndicate stated that the Israeli authorities informed the man’s family of his death shortly after he was arrested. The family confirmed that their son was beaten in their house before he was taken away.

The Israeli Army claimed that the soldiers had reacted to Saradeeh’s attempt to steal a weapon from one of the soldiers. The detainee was fatally wounded during the arrest. They also claimed that a knife was found in his possession subsequently.

An Israeli military spokesperson said the soldiers were in the city for “routine activities” when the incident happened.