Freed Palestinians Report Harrowing Conditions of Hunger and Abuse in Zionist Detention Facilities
Palestinian detainees freed as part of the Gaza ceasefire accord have recounted distressing experiences of systematic mistreatment, characterizing Israeli detention facilities as “slaughterhouses.” They claim to have suffered from torture, starvation, and psychological torment.
In the initial phase of the agreement aimed at concluding the two-year conflict involving the Gaza Strip, a total of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails, along with 1,718 Palestinians detained since October 7, 2023, were released on Monday.
The released Palestinian individuals reported experiencing physical abuse and degrading treatment, characterizing the Israeli detention facilities where they were confined as “slaughterhouses.”
Abdallah Abu Rafe described the Ofer prison in stark terms, likening it to a “slaughterhouse” rather than a conventional detention facility.
He noted that mattresses are consistently removed, the food situation is challenging, and overall conditions remain tough.
Palestinian journalist Shadi Abu Seed shared a harrowing narrative of his experiences during his imprisonment in an Israeli facility following his recent release.
A statement has emerged from an individual who claims to have endured severe hardships over the past two years. According to the account, the individual allegedly suffered from starvation, lacked clothing, and was subjected to continuous physical assaults and torture.
Ibrahim al-Khalili’s brother, Mohammed, who endured detention for over 19 months without formal charges, recounted his experience as a significant struggle.
He expressed relief after enduring significant hardship and humiliation, stating, “We were beaten and humiliated. We suffered a lot. But thank God, it’s all over now.”
Reports of Prisoners Suffering Injuries in Israeli Detention Facilities
The Director General of the Shifa Medical Complex, Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, has reported that recently freed Palestinian inmates are arriving at the facility with significant physical and psychological trauma. These individuals are suffering from mutilations and disabilities attributed to systematic torture and medical negligence during their incarceration in Israeli prisons.
He observed that the prisoners who were released demonstrate significant deterioration in both physical and mental health, with lingering signs of having endured torture.
He highlighted that intentional medical negligence during their incarceration has resulted in some individuals being severely harmed.
The doctor delivered a somber evaluation, indicating that numerous prisoners sustained injuries during the conflict and were deprived of medical treatment while in detention.
The healthcare crisis in the Gaza Strip has intensified, he noted, due to the detention of a significant number of Palestinian doctors by Israel, exacerbating the region’s medical collapse.
More than 10,000 Palestinians continue to be “unlawfully detained,” according to recent reports.
Palestinian officials report that more than 10,000 Palestinians remain detained in Israeli prisons without legal justification, even after the recent exchange of captives and prisoners in Gaza.
Reports indicate that at least 77 Palestinians have died in Israeli detention facilities over the past two years, with approximately 360 children remaining incarcerated.
Hamas announced on Monday that it has taken all necessary measures to protect the lives of captives in Gaza, attributing threats to their safety to actions by “war criminal Netanyahu” and the Israeli military.
In a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas is set to release 20 living Israeli captives and the remains of 28 individuals, while Israel is obligated to free approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees reportedly held unlawfully in its prisons.
