Four Palestinians released from Israeli custody under a ceasefire agreement are hospitalized in critical condition, following their release along with 369 other detainees on Saturday.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, 369 Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli jails on Saturday. In return, three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were released. Despite the successful exchange, many of the released Palestinians showed signs of severe physical deterioration, with several struggling to walk due to their weakened state. Among them, four were admitted to a hospital in Ramallah, located in the occupied West Bank, due to their grave condition.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed the hospitalizations, stating that these individuals required urgent medical care after their prolonged confinement. Conditions inside the Israeli prisons were harsh, with reports indicating inadequate access to food, water, and medical treatment. Amir Abu Radah, one of the released detainees, told Liberty News that he had spent 18 months in the Nafha Desert prison, where authorities had cut off water and electricity supplies. He described the conditions as unbearable, with prisoners effectively isolated from the outside world.
Another detainee, Hazem Rajab, spoke of the inhumane treatment he endured during his imprisonment. Arrested in December 2023, Rajab recalled brutal beatings from Israeli forces, saying, “They told us, ‘Welcome to hell.’ It was truly a hellish experience.” Even in the final hours before their release, some prisoners were subjected to physical abuse.
As the release process unfolded, it became clear that many of the Palestinians were suffering from severe malnutrition, dehydration, and lack of basic hygiene. They were often denied regular access to showers, allowed only once every ten days. These harrowing conditions have drawn global attention to the human rights violations faced by detainees in Israeli prisons.
LND/BAIZID
