Recently released Palestinian prisoners have come forward with harrowing testimonies of severe abuse and systematic torture inflicted by Israeli prison authorities during their captivity.

The testimonies, gathered from detainees freed under the Al-Aqsa Flood prisoner exchange, shed light on the brutal conditions Palestinian prisoners endured in Israeli occupation jails.

According to the Prisoners Information Office, many of the freed detainees reported days of relentless beatings, resulting in fractured ribs and other severe injuries. The situation inside Israeli prisons has escalated to unprecedented levels of brutality since October 7, 2023, the office stated.

The testimonies highlight widespread physical and psychological torture, as well as deliberate medical neglect that has led to disease outbreaks, including scabies, among prisoners. Many of the released detainees were in such critical health conditions that they were immediately transferred to hospitals for urgent medical care upon their release.

A statement from the Prisoners Information Office condemned these inhumane conditions, emphasizing that Israeli occupation authorities are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. It called for urgent intervention from the United Nations, human rights organizations, and the international community to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their violations of international law and prisoners’ rights.

In addition to the horrors endured in prison, the release process itself was marked by further humiliation and abuse. Officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed shock and outrage over the manner in which Israel released Palestinian prisoners during Saturday’s exchange. Reports indicate that detainees were led out in shackles, their hands behind their heads, and forced to wear bracelets bearing Israeli symbols.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, ICRC staff were stunned by the degrading treatment of Palestinian prisoners, further highlighting Israel’s ongoing mistreatment and systematic repression of Palestinians in captivity.

The Palestinian Prisoners Society has also reported that Israeli authorities are engaging in systematic repression against released detainees, including preventing their families from holding welcoming receptions. In Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorates, at least 10 released detainees had to be hospitalized due to the severity of the injuries sustained from Israeli torture.

In Gaza, freed prisoners were transported to the European Hospital in Khan Younis for medical examinations, underscoring the horrific conditions they endured during their unjust imprisonment.

The Hamas movement strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing violations against Palestinian detainees, labeling them war crimes and crimes against humanity. The group called for immediate intervention from international bodies, including the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, to stop Israel’s barbaric treatment of Palestinian prisoners.

Meanwhile, local sources in Gaza confirmed that before their release, detainees suffered severe beatings for several consecutive days, resulting in fractured ribs and other injuries. Reports indicate that Israeli occupation jailers subjected detainees to inhumane torture just before handing them over, a clear act of vengeance and collective punishment.

The revelations have further intensified international outrage over Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners, with growing calls for accountability and justice. (ILKHA)