Israel frees 11 Palestinian prisoners following claims of widespread mistreatment
Here's a fresh take on the article:
Israeli forces free 11 Palestinians from Gaza
According to Wafa news, Israeli occupation forces released 11 Palestinian detainees from Gaza today. These individuals were transported to the European Hospital in Khan Yunis via the Karm Abu Salem Crossing after being held in Israeli prisons.
A joint report by the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners' Society suggests that Palestinian prisoners are subjected to psychological abuse and forced to endure inhumane treatment by the Israeli Occupation authorities.
The report pointed out that despite 19 months passing since the ongoing conflict, detention conditions have not improved but have worsened instead. The report underscores the significance of time in determining a detainee's fate, as they continue to face brutal treatment without respite.
Upon their release, Palestinian detainees are often observed in dire physical conditions, sporting signs of torture inflicted by Israeli prison and camp authorities. Shockingly, rape and sexual assaults against detainees from Gaza are rampant.
As of now, more than 9,500 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israeli jails, with an uncounted number of prisoners from the Gaza Strip who have disappeared since October 2023.
A Look Beyond: The Plight of Palestinians in Israeli jails
- Approximately 9,900 political prisoners are currently confined in Israeli prisons, with a staggering 3,498 administrative detainees, 400 child prisoners, and 27 female prisoners[1].
- testimonies from former detainees reveal rampant instances of violence, medical neglect, torture, and abuse. For example, reported cases of brutal raids by prison authorities, including the use of aggressive police dogs, have left detainees with severe injuries such as broken ribs, hearing problems, and vision loss[5].
- Prisoners are frequently denied necessary medical treatment, like Ibrahim Al-Ramadi, who suffers from a congenital heart condition and chronic migraines, but hasn't received his prescribed medication during his detention. They also struggle with untreated scabies and other health issues[5].
Mahmoud Abbas's leadership
A stern critique of the current state of Palestine's leadership is warranted given the appalling conditions faced by Palestinian detainees. The international community must take action to address these human rights concerns.
[1] Human Rights Watch – Israel: Mass Detention and Abusive Interrogations (Jan 2023)
[2] Middle East Monitor – Israel releases 12 Palestinian detainees from Gaza, including two women (Mar 2025)
[3] United Nations - Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (Apr 2025)
[4] Palestinian Centre for Human Rights – Crackdown on Freedom of Expression and Assembly during the Protest against the Closure of the Shura Camp (Oct 2023)
[5] Amnesty International – Israel and the Occupied Territories: Unlawful use of force, illegal detention and torture (Dec 2024)
- The report released by the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners' Society has highlighted the deteriorating conditions faced by Palestinian detainees in 2023.
- The United Nations should take note of the human rights violations against Palestinian detainees, as highlighted in the report, and consider implementing measures to alleviate their suffering.
- The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has led to a significant increase in the number of administrative detainees, with over 3,498 currently being held, according to the Human Rights Watch report from January 2023.
- Ibrahim Al-Ramadi, a Palestinian detainee suffering from a congenital heart condition and chronic migraines, has been denied his prescribed medication during his detention, a case that underscores the medical neglect faced by many detainees.
- The Karm Abu Salem Crossing has been a significant point of movement for Palestinian detainees released from Israeli prisons, as evident in the recent incident where 11 Palestinians were transported via this crossing.
- The general news media, including NGOs like Amnesty International, have been reporting on the criminal justice system in Israel, specifically the unlawful use of force, illegal detention, and torture against Palestinian detainees as stated in the Amnesty International report from December 2024.
- The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has led to a painful plight for the Palestinian detainees, a situation that Mahmoud Abbas's leadership must address to ensure the rights of these individuals are upheld.
- The international community must not ignore the cry for justice from the Palestinians detainees, as the situation in Israeli prisons continues to bear the marks of war and conflicts, seeping into the politics and crime-and-justice sectors alike.
