Palestinians released by Israel show signs of ‘torture, starvation’

The Palestinian Prisoners' Society stated that dozens of Palestinians released in the latest batch on Saturday showed signs of torture and starvation. This was discovered after a total of 183 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons under the framework of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. They wore stained gray prison uniforms, showing the marks of years of detention.

Many of the released appeared tired and weak as they walked from buses to the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, before reuniting with their families amid cheers from the crowd. The association noted in a statement, "Each time prisoners are released, we find that their bodies reflect the extent of the crimes they have suffered, including unprecedented torture, starvation crimes, systematic medical crimes, and multiple cases of scabies infections since October 7th. In addition, many testimonies indicate that prisoners were subjected to severe beatings for days before their release, in some cases even resulting in rib fractures."

The association further emphasized, "The Prisoners' Society reaffirms that the occupying forces are carrying out organized terrorism against the released prisoners and their families in various ways, most notably through severe beatings of the released prisoners and issuing death threats if any reception activities are organized or if families show any signs of welcome." One released Palestinian stated, "In the past 15 months, we have suffered the most brutal torture... The Israelis treated us inhumanely; they treat animals better than us."

Red Cross staff, in an interview with Al Jazeera, expressed outrage at the way the Israeli Prison Authority handled the release of prisoners from Ketziot Prison on Saturday. According to their description, the Palestinian detainees were released with their hands cuffed behind their heads and wearing a band that read "The eternal people will not forget." Hamas stated that the "abuse and torture" suffered by Palestinian prisoners confirm the "ugliness they have endured" in Israeli prisons.

Hamas added in a statement that despite the dire conditions in Gaza, including relentless bombing and attacks by Israel on the besieged enclave since October 2023, which have resulted in over 47,000 deaths, its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, has not failed to provide necessary medical care to Israeli captives. "The good physical and mental condition of the enemy prisoners is proof of the values of our resistance and its moral commitment to prisoners, while the criminal occupying forces are committing the most heinous violations against our prisoners in prisons," the group stated. Sources told Al Jazeera that a Palestinian, Hussam Shaheen, would be taken to a hospital after undergoing surgery without anesthesia in prison.

Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, 33 captives held by Hamas in Gaza will be released in the first six weeks of the truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians, many of whom have been serving time in Israeli prisons.