Israel Releases 10 Palestinians From Notorious Detention Camp \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Ten Palestinians detained by Israeli forces were released and returned to Gaza on Thursday, alleging severe abuse during captivity. The men, held since November and detained from northern Gaza, described torture, starvation, and poor living conditions. Their release is the first since Israel resumed its military campaign in March.
Quick Looks
- Ten Palestinians were released Thursday and returned to Deir al-Balah, Gaza.
- They were detained by Israeli troops during the northern Gaza offensive.
- Most were held in Sde Teiman, a military prison linked to abuse reports.
- Detainees described beatings, lack of sleep, and forced standing on sharp stones.
- Families wept as they reunited with visibly weakened loved ones.
- One detainee, injured in an airstrike, was arrested after hospital discharge.
- No official comment yet from the Israeli military.
- Israel claims it investigates all reports of abuse and follows legal standards.
- Rights groups report widespread mistreatment in Israeli military and civilian prisons.
- At least 61 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since the war began.
Deep Look
In a harrowing homecoming on Thursday, ten Palestinian men released from Israeli detention returned to Gaza, physically and emotionally scarred by what they describe as months of torture and neglect in military prison camps. Their release marks the first such action since Israel resumed its war on Gaza in mid-March, following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire.
The detainees, all dressed in grey sweatshirts and pants, arrived by bus to a hospital in Deir al-Balah, where emotional scenes unfolded as family members rushed to embrace them. Many were visibly weakened, gaunt, or injured — a stark contrast to the images their families remembered.
“We Lived in Torment Every Day”
Among them was Fayez Ayoub, detained by Israeli forces on November 6, shortly after being discharged from Kamal Adwan Hospital where he was treated for serious injuries from an airstrike. Still recovering from pelvic and spinal fractures, Ayoub now walks with assistance, his frail condition shocking his daughter Marah.
“Torment, torment,” he whispered, as his daughter sobbed.
“Every moment we waited for you to be released,” she cried. “This isn’t the man who left us.”
Ayoub recounted spending 156 days in pain and isolation, often deprived of sleep and subjected to routine beatings.
Inside Sde Teiman: Gaza’s Notorious Prison Camp
The freed men said they were held, at least partially, in Sde Teiman, an Israeli military detention center that has become infamous for its alleged abuse of Palestinian detainees.
Hani Abu Sharif, another released detainee, gave chilling details of life inside the facility:
- Beaten frequently and stripped to underwear
- Forced to stand barefoot on sharp stones, causing bleeding
- Limited to one shower every 4–8 weeks
- Suffered from hunger and a lack of medical care
“They humiliated us in every way,” said Abu Sharif. “They broke our bodies and tried to break our spirits.”
No Charges, No Trials
The detainees were among thousands arrested by Israeli forces as part of the military operation launched after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel. Israeli authorities have continued detaining Palestinians under administrative detention, a controversial legal tool that allows suspects to be held without formal charges or trial.
While Israeli officials claim detainees are suspected of having ties to Hamas or other militant factions, families and rights organizations argue that many are civilians, swept up arbitrarily during raids and airstrikes.
The Israeli military has not commented on the latest release. Prison officials maintain they operate within Israeli and international law and say they investigate any reports of abuse. However, widespread documentation from human rights groups paints a starkly different picture.
Deaths and Allegations in Detention
Human rights monitors and the Palestinian Authority report that at least 61 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since the war began — including a 17-year-old boy who died in March at the civilian-run Megiddo Prison. Medical professionals attributed his death to starvation.
Meanwhile, five Israeli soldiers have been indicted for the rape and abuse of a detainee using a knife at the same Sde Teiman prison, underscoring the severity of some allegations.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society and other advocacy groups have demanded international investigations into these claims, citing systemic violence, denial of medical aid, and degrading treatment across both military and civilian facilities.
Periodic Releases and Political Calculations
Israel has conducted several detainee releases throughout the conflict, often linked to diplomatic negotiations or in response to shifting military strategies. During the two-month ceasefire that began in late 2023, Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
However, Thursday’s release was the first since the ceasefire broke in mid-March, suggesting a possible new phase in Israel’s approach to detainee management or external pressure over prison conditions.
Despite their release, thousands remain in detention, many in undisclosed locations and with little access to legal representation.
Israel says its arrests are necessary to protect its security and to root out individuals linked to terrorist organizations. But for the families and communities in Gaza, these detentions often translate to prolonged suffering, unresolved trauma, and a continued sense of injustice.
Israel Releases 10 Israel Releases 10
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