Relatives of detainees flock to Al-Aqsa Hospital after Israel releases more than 50 Palestinians
This morning, dozens of Palestinians have flocked to Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, where some detainees arrived after their release from Israel, according to Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency Sanad.
Some people inquired about the fate of their missing relatives still in Israeli prisons. Former detainees reassured them that they were safe despite the difficult conditions they endure, such as torture and starvation.
Thousands of Palestinians ‘going through hell on earth’ in Israeli prisons
Mansour Shouman, a Palestinian journalist and humanitarian who witnessed Israel’s war in Rafah and Khan Younis, has told Al Jazeera that “there are thousands more like Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya who had been detained by Israel in the wrongful way over the past few months”.
“They are in terrible conditions both mentally and physically. They have no access to proper food or water, they are being tortured. They are going through hell on earth right now,” he said.
“Similar to how the international governments and organisations put pressure on the Israeli government to free Muhammad Abu Salmiya, we call upon them to also work towards freeing the thousands of other Palestinian detainees who are in those detention centres right now,” Shouman added.
Palestinian detainees must be part of truce talks until their release: Al-Shifa Hospital director
Abu Salmiya is one of 55 Palestinian detainees Israeli authorities released earlier today. This is what he told reporters from Nasser Hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis:
“All the Palestinian detainees are suffering. I left them in a very dire condition. My message is that their issue must be part of any negotiations until all the Palestinian detainees are released,” he said.
“Al-Shifa Hospital will be rebuilt and it will be once again a beacon of healthcare for all the Palestinians, not only Gazans. I will resume my duties as soon as it is feasible.”
Each Palestinian prisoner lost about 30kg: al-Shifa chief
Abu Salmiya has shared more information at a news conference about his experience in an Israeli prison. Here are his main points:
- Many prisoners were killed in the interrogation cells, and we left behind thousands of detainees held by Israeli forces.
- The Israeli occupation forces have no regard for red lines. They are dealing with the detainees as if they are solid objects. They are torturing Palestinian detainees day and night.
- Even the Israeli medical staff, instead of providing healthcare to the Palestinian detainees, are beating, battering and torturing.
- Israeli doctors and nurses beat and torture Palestinian prisoners and treat the bodies of detainees as if they were inanimate objects.
- Every prisoner held by Israeli forces lost about 30kg (66 pounds) of weight, with food being denied.
- The occupation did not bring any charges against me despite holding a trial three times, which means that they arrested me for political reasons.
- We were subjected to severe torture, and Israeli forces stormed the prisoners’ cells and assaulted them on an almost daily basis.
- We did not meet lawyers, nor did any international institution visit us.
- For two months, none of the prisoners ate more than one loaf of bread a day.
Palestinian men who had been detained by Israeli forces speak to reporters as they arrive for a checkup at Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza
