Israeli authorities released five Palestinian prisoners from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday evening after months in detention following the outbreak of the genocidal war in October 2023.

The prisoners were transferred through the Kerem Shalom crossing before being taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical treatment under the supervision of Red Cross teams. Local reports said the men showed signs of exhaustion after prolonged detention.

The released prisoners were identified as Younis Radwan Abdel Aziz Al-Astal, 62, Ziad Khalil Mansour Al-Astal, 52, Mahmoud Samir Ahmed Al-Astal, 46, Omar Mustafa Qassem Al-Astal, 36, and Faraj Mousa Mohammed Al-Astal, 33.

Thousands of Palestinians from Gaza have been detained since the beginning of the genocidal war, amid repeated reports by rights groups and former detainees describing harsh conditions, medical neglect and abuse inside Israeli detention facilities.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and injured since the ceasefire came into effect last October, with rescue teams continuing to recover bodies from destroyed areas across the enclave as the humanitarian crisis deepens.