Thank God we got out': Released Palestinians recall years in Israeli prison

In the occupied West Bank, as Palestinian crowds gathered to welcome released former detainees, those freed from Israeli prisons recounted severe abuse and hardship. Despite the joy in the crowds, the released individuals carried complex and heavy emotions, having endured unspeakable suffering.

Sameh Shubaki, a 45-year-old former prisoner from the West Bank city of Qalqilya, revealed to Middle East Eye that those sentenced to life imprisonment, like himself, were completely cut off from the outside world. "Prisoners sentenced to life are like living in purgatory, but without being able to die," said Shubaki, who was released on Thursday after serving 22 years. He recalled being pursued by Israeli forces for months before his arrest in 2003, narrowly escaping assassination attempts multiple times.

Shubaki also recounted his experiences after his arrest, including a 94-day military investigation and another 33-day investigation in 2013. His family's home was demolished by Israeli forces a year after his arrest, and his brothers were also detained. During his imprisonment, he was held in solitary confinement. He stated that prisoners were unaware of who would be released, and news of his impending release was spread through word of mouth.

When asked about his plans after release, Shubaki said the first thing he did upon returning home was take a cold shower – just as he and his fellow inmates were forced to do in prison. "If you want to feel warm, take a cold shower," he said with a smile. Another prisoner, Sayed Kombuz, who spent nine years in prison, also expressed that his joy was "indescribable," despite the abuse he suffered at the hands of Israeli prison guards before his release. "I didn't expect to be this happy... thank God for everything," he said, beaming. "The last moments under Israeli occupation (in prison) were tough, but thank God, it's all over."

Kombuz's father was overjoyed by his son's release, telling Middle East Eye that he had not seen his son in seven years, and all communication had been completely cut off for the past two years. "No phone calls, no messages, nothing – the only communication was through the lawyer," he said, adding that even the lawyer could only see his son once every three to four months to "reassure us" of his condition. Many prisoners like Kombuz, released on Thursday, told Middle East Eye that they had suffered beatings and humiliation in prison.

The abuse described in these testimonies aligns with dozens of testimonies received by Middle East Eye and other media outlets since the start of the war. In early August, the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem accused Israeli authorities of systematically abusing Palestinians in torture camps, subjecting them to severe violence and sexual assault. The report, titled "Welcome to Hell," was based on 55 testimonies from former detainees from the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israeli citizens, the vast majority of whom were held without trial.

Huthaifa Mora, a 17-year-old from Ramallah, recounted the different types of violence he suffered in prison, including forced starvation, physical abuse, and being sprayed with gas. Mora told Middle East Eye that prisoners suffered from illnesses such as scabies. "Thank God we got out," he said. "(Getting out) is the best feeling." Shubaki sent a heartfelt message to Gaza: "Gaza acts as a messenger. We stand side by side, and the people of Gaza defend and emphasize the rights of Palestinians in front of the whole world."

Meanwhile, Kombuz's father told Middle East Eye that he was sure his son would regain his freedom, despite his 17-year sentence. "I hope every (prisoner) returns home. Those who are imprisoned will taste freedom one day. Thank God for everything," he said. Ahmed Farroukh, a Palestinian man from Hebron who was held under administrative detention, told Middle East Eye that the moments before his release were "tough." But he holds hope for others living in Israeli prisons.

"I hope all our (Palestinian) prisoners are released immediately, and of course, our happiness is not complete unless all our prisoners are free." The latest group of 110 Palestinian prisoners released on Thursday was in exchange for three Israeli captives held in Gaza, including 30 minors, the youngest of whom is 15-year-old Saif Darwish from the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem.