Freed from Israeli prisons, frail and injured Palestinians reach Gaza

A group of 60 Palestinians released from Israeli custody has arrived at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Dozens of family members gathered outside the hospital facility as the former detainees arrived, several in wheelchairs and others showing clear signs of physical injury and exhaustion.

Medical personnel immediately initiated health assessments for the group upon arrival.

The group represents the largest release of Gaza detainees since the initial prisoner exchange conducted under phase one of the ceasefire agreement in October, during which Israel released approximately 1,700 Palestinians.

Amani Al-Naoq, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), stated that ICRC teams facilitated the transfer of the 60 individuals from the Karem Abu Salem crossing to the hospital, bringing the total number of released detainees assisted by the organisation since 2023 to more than 2,500.

According to a report by Israeli daily Haaretz, the Israeli military released the 60 Palestinians after “completing interrogations and determining they were no longer classified as security suspects.”

The report noted that the detainees had been held at Ofer Prison and the Sde Teiman military prison.

Israeli rights group HaMoked reports that Israel currently holds approximately 1,300 Palestinians from Gaza under the classification of "unlawful combatants."

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights noted that a 2002 Knesset law permits authorities to hold individuals without formal charges or judicial proceedings, extending detentions based on undisclosed “security grounds.”

Custody conditions

Released detainee Abdullah Kilani, who arrived at the facility in a wheelchair, stated he was detained in December 2024 on Salah al-Din Street in central Gaza before being transferred to Negev Prison and subsequently to Sde Teiman.

Kilani stated that he and another detainee sustained gunshot wounds while held at the facility.

Sde Teiman, located in the Negev desert, has been documented by Palestinian and Israeli rights organisations regarding reported physical abuse, prolonged physical restraint, and medical neglect.

Another released detainee, identified as Abu Ibrahim, reported that detainees were required to sit on concrete floors or iron surfaces for extended daily periods and stated he was struck by guards using rifle butts.

Mohammed Jabr Al-Majdalawi, 43, who spent 21 months in prisons including six months at Sde Teiman, stated he had no contact with outside entities until meeting Red Cross personnel prior to release.

Palestinian rights organisations report that over 9,600 Palestinians remain in Israeli prisons, including approximately 350 minors and 84 women.

Official records indicate that Israel has killed at least 1,203 Palestinians and injured 3,900 others since the 10 October 2025 ceasefire took effect in Gaza, following two years of Israeli genocidal war that ruined 90 per cent of civilian infrastructure with UN-estimated reconstruction costs of $70 billion.

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Source: TRT