Newly released Palestinian prisoners from the recent swap deal have testified to systematic torture and abuse inside Israeli detention centres. Their frail bodies and deteriorating health stand as evidence of the brutal conditions imposed by the Israeli occupation.

The Prisoners’ Media Office (PMO) condemned Israel’s treatment ofdetainees, stating that their scars expose ongoing violations in Israeli prisons. Testimonies describe relentless beatings, medical neglect, and prolonged solitary confinement—methods used to break their spirit.

Among those released, Wael Jumaa Jumaa from Gaza bears marks of severe abuse. Ghaleb al-Radi, an elderly detainee from northern Gaza, shows signs of prolonged mistreatment. Adel Subaih was forcibly taken from Al-Shifa Medical Complex, used as a human shield, and brutally beaten, leading to internal bleeding. He later awoke in an Israeli hospital, where he was coerced into amputation due to a lack of medical care.

The conditions endured by detainees have caused severe health crises. Four recently released prisoners were immediately hospitalised in Ramallah, highlighting what rights groups call Israel’s use of prisons as systematic torture centres. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor denounced these facilities as “graves for the living”, documenting inhumane treatment until the moment of release.

Since the ceasefire negotiations following the Israeli genocidal war, the Israeli occupation has released 766 Palestinian prisoners in six batches, including children, women, and those arrested after the escalation. The most recent batch included 369 prisoners, 333 from Gaza. However, the psychological and physical scars inflicted on detainees persist, with lasting consequences for them and their families.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the return of some detainees, including Subaih, to Gaza. Meanwhile, human rights organisations continue to demand accountability for Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners and adherence to international conventions prohibiting torture.