Released Gaza detainees report abuse, starvation in Israeli prisons

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 May 2025 12:00
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Several Palestinian detainees have been released and transferred to Gaza after months of imprisonment marked by starvation and torture during "Israel's" ongoing war on the Strip.

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Rescuers remove the body of a victim from under the rubble, following an Israeli strike that hit the home of a Palestinian family in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on May 23, 2025. (AFP)

Several Palestinian detainees were released late Thursday by Israeli occupation authorities after enduring months of imprisonment marked by torture and starvation.

The Prisoners' Information Office stated that the detainees crossed into central Gaza via the Kissufim checkpoint and were immediately transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

While the exact number of those released was not disclosed, the office noted that many of the detainees typically return in critical health, with some suffering from injuries sustained under torture during their time in Israeli detention.

Detainees suffer from torture, starvation in Israeli custody

Former detainees often recount harrowing conditions, including prolonged deprivation of food, severe beatings, and medical neglect.

Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned these practices, warning of systemic abuses within "Israel’s" detention facilities, particularly during the ongoing war on Gaza.

Thousands detained since October 2023

According to a statement released on April 17 by the Palestinian Prisoners Society, "Israel" has detained thousands of Gaza residents since October 7, 2023. These arrests have been carried out under strict secrecy, with many detainees held without charge in undisclosed locations.

The PPS described the detention conditions as “harsh and terrifying,” emphasizing that they are designed to inflict maximum physical and psychological harm.

War on Gaza continues amid international ceasefire calls

Despite growing international pressure to halt its war, "Israel" has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip. Since October 2023, over 53,700 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children.

As the war enters its second year, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with displaced civilians, widespread destruction, and rising casualties.

'Israel’s' blockade causes 326 deaths, 300+ miscarriages in Gaza

On Tuesday, the Gaza Government Media Office announced in a statement that "Israel's" brutal blockade on humanitarian aid has killed hundreds of people in Gaza, in addition to a sharp rise in miscarriages.

"The Israeli occupation's starvation policy in Gaza has led to the deaths of 326 people due to malnutrition and lack of food and medicine, along with over 300 miscarriages among pregnant women in just 80 days," the office stated.

Harrowing statistics

According to the Media Office, the severe conditions have led to devastating fatalities over 80 days of total blockade and siege: 58 deaths from malnutrition, 242 deaths, mostly elderly, due to shortages of food and medicine, 26 kidney failure patients who perished from lack of proper nutrition and medical care, and over 300 miscarriages among pregnant women caused by critical nutrient deficiencies.

"Since March 2, 2025, the Israeli occupation has barred all humanitarian aid and fuel trucks from entering Gaza, despite the urgent need for at least 44,000 truckloads of supplies to meet the population’s most basic survival needs. Meanwhile, all border crossings remain completely sealed, in blatant violation of international laws and norms, while the world watches in silence," the statement highlighted.

Additionally, the office noted that many blood donation campaigns have failed due to the malnutrition many residents are facing, at a time when the medical sector in Gaza tries to treat the thousands of wounded in critical need of blood transfusions.