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Israel releases 7 Palestinian detainees amid reports of severe abuse

July 25, 2024 at 1:31 pm

Palestinians including women released by Israeli army arrive at Al Aqsa Hospital to receive treatment in Deir al Balah, Gaza on July 25, 2024 [Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency]

Israeli occupation authorities released seven Palestinian detainees from Gaza today, including two women.

According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), first aid was provided to the released detainees at the Kissufim military checkpoint, based east of Deir Al-Balah, before they were transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

Two of the released detainees recounted the torture and violations they suffered during their detention. Muhammad Al-Louh described spending 30 days in the occupation’s prisons, where he was subjected to severe abuse, continuous beatings and electric shocks.

Al-Louh also mentioned that detainees are kept shackled, handcuffed and blindfolded at all times, prevented from raising their heads, and crammed into narrow rooms deprived of basic necessities.

Another Palestinian survivor who was among those released today, Muhammad Abu Shaar, reported being subjected to electric shock torture multiple times, along with beatings and sleep deprivation during his detention. He also noted that the food provided was insufficient and of poor quality.

Periodically, the Israeli army releases Palestinian detainees arrested in its ground offensive on Gaza, which began in October. Upon release, detainees often show signs of severe torture and have revealed details of the inhumane treatment they received in the occupation’s jails, many suffer permanent disabilities.

Since the beginning of its aggression against the Gaza Strip on 7 October, Israeli occupation forces have detained hundreds of civilians.

READ: Gazan detainees face torture, rape in Israeli prisons: Lawyer

Haaretz reported earlier this year that Palestinian detainees are subjected to beatings, being handcuffed to walls and forced to stand with their hands bound above their heads.

In May, CNN exposed gruesome details of abuse, torture and mistreatment of Palestinians from Gaza in one Israeli detention facility with doctors speaking to the news organisation about the torture inflicted on detainees. Released prisoners have said medical staff at the facilities take part in humiliating and torturing inmates.

Some 9,700 Palestinians are detained in Israel’s jails, including 80 female prisoners and 250 children, according to estimates by the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

It added that this number includes 3,380 administrative detainees – held without charge or trial, while two pregnant women were among those being detained.