Sixty Palestinians detained by Israel return to Gaza, describe abuses

The freed men, immoderate successful wheelchairs, picture horrific abuses successful Israeli detention.

Sixty Palestinians detained by Israel were returned to Gaza, arriving astatine a infirmary successful Khan Younis frail, injured and, successful respective cases, incapable to walk.

The men were brought by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Nasser Medical Complex for introspection connected Monday, wherever crowds of relatives and aesculapian teams greeted them.

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This is the largest captive merchandise since the archetypal signifier of the “ceasefire” successful Israel’s genocidal warfare connected Gaza, which took effect successful October.

They are among astir 1,300 radical from Gaza held by Israel arsenic “unlawful combatants”, according to Israeli rights radical HaMoked. Israel said the men were released aft interrogations determined they were “no longer information suspects”.

Prisoners released from Israeli custody get astatine Nasser Medical Complex successful Khan Younis, Gaza, July 27, 2026 [Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty]

Al Jazeera’s Moath al-Kahlout, reporting from Gaza, said the detainees were labourers successful Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory earlier October 7, 2023.

He added that conditions successful Gaza had deteriorated nether the Israeli blockade to a constituent wherever the men would conflict to find nutrient and shelter, which would interaction their recovery.

Abdullah Kilani was among those released from Israeli jail. He said helium was seized successful December 2024 connected Salah al-Din Street successful cardinal Gaza and held for much than 18 months, during which helium and different detainee were shot.

“The conditions were highly harsh,” helium told Anadolu. “I inactive can’t judge I’m free.”

A 2nd man, who gave his sanction arsenic Abu Ibrahim, told Anadolu prisoners were kept seated connected bare factual oregon robust slabs and helium was injured erstwhile guards bushed him with firearm butts.

“There was nary favoritism betwixt young men and the elderly,” helium said.

Mohammed Jabr al-Majdalawi, 43, told Anadolu helium was held for a twelvemonth and 9 months and lone learned of his merchandise erstwhile helium met Red Cross unit for the transfer.

“I’m crying due to the fact that we suffered truthful much,” helium said. “Words cannot picture what we went through.”

“The prisoners who stay wrong are inactive successful danger,” helium added, urging planetary bodies to act.

Prisoners released from Israeli custody get astatine Nasser Medical Complex, July 27, 2026 [Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty]

Torture arsenic policy

The men were held crossed Israel’s astir notorious prisons: Ofer, Negev and Sde Teiman, cardinal facilities successful an apparatus that rights groups accidental subjects Palestinians to arbitrary maltreatment amounting to a systematic argumentation of torture.

Palestinian and Israeli rights groups person documented predominant beatings, aesculapian neglect, deprivation of food, prolonged restraint and deaths.

About 9,600 Palestinians are held by Israel, immoderate of them children.

A United Nations committee of enquiry reported past month that Palestinian children arrested by Israel were subjected to torture, intersexual maltreatment and different forms of mistreatment.

The ICRC says it has been incapable to scope Palestinians successful Israeli detention since October 2023 and has repeated its request to beryllium capable to find them and inspect their conditions of imprisonment.

Prisoners released from Israeli custody get astatine Nasser Medical Complex, July 27, 2026 [Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty]