As part of a ceasefire agreement to the ongoing hostilities in Gaza, Israel has freed almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. This release is a big victory for countless families and communities across the entire southeastern region. Some of the people let go had been incarcerated for more than 20 years. On Monday, news of the release triggered jubilant celebrations throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Friends danced with joy even as others wept in mourning at the announcement.
Faisal Mahmood Abdullah Al Khaleefi is pictured here, one of those released. He had already served a decade at the time in federal prison for severe security violations and weapons charges. His experience offers a glimpse into the dehumanizing experience many other incarcerated people are subjected to during their unnatural incarceration. Al Khaleefi’s testimony recounted a traumatic ordeal filled with torture and deprivation.
“There was no treatment, we couldn’t even take painkillers,” – Faisal Mahmood Abdullah Al Khaleefi
The group set free members of various Palestinian factions, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Fatah included. Prominent Palestinian leaders, including leader of the Palestinian uprising Marwan Barghouti, principal of Fatah and one-time Palestinian Prisoner of the Israeli, were not released.
Some of those released had previously been held without charge by Israeli military since the start of the offensive. They count as part of close to 1,700 total detainees released. Released were an additional 250 prisoners who had served lengthy sentences for violent offenses, such as murder, and were similarly included in the release.
According to testimonies from recently released prisoners, Israel’s makeshift prisons continue to provide chilling stories of their experiences while in custody. Ahmed Awad, another one of the freed, described the emotional and physical impact of his incarceration.
“It was so difficult. No rational human can imagine what they would see in prison,” – Ahmed Awad
Awad painted a broader portrait of the experience of numerous incarcerated individuals.
“You can’t imagine the way they deal with prisoners. They humiliated us and beat us daily without any reason.” – Ahmed Awad
Conditions varied widely among the released individuals. Others experienced life debilitating traumas while in jail, such as fractured ribs and ocular blast injuries. Al Khaleefi reiterated that medical staff were complicit in the abuse.
“As for doctors, the one who was treating us also beat us. The first one to beat (us) was the doctor,” – Faisal Mahmood Abdullah Al Khaleefi
The release was attended by senior members of Hamas, including the likes of Mahmoud Qawasmeh, a member of Hamas’ politburo. It further included criminals like Muhammad Zakarneh and Muhammad Abu al-Rub, both convicted of violent offenses. Zakarneh had premeditated the murder of an Israeli taxi driver in 2009 and was sentenced to life imprisonment for the act. At the same time, Abu al-Rub planned a deadly stabbing attack in 2017 and was convicted.
The Israeli government subsequently deported 154 of the released prisoners to Egypt. Most of these people were convicted for committing violent crimes. The rest were returned home to their communities in the WB, EJ, and GS.
Some families get the unusual but joyous opportunity of reuniting with loved ones. This release exposes much deeper horrors that are buried in the Israeli prison system. Former inmates described suffering bone-breaking treatment. They were frequently made to kneel in excruciating stances and left out for days in fluctuating hot and cold elements.
“They left us in the sun. They left us on the gravel for 12 hours,” – Faisal Mahmood Abdullah Al Khaleefi
Working through some of the complicated political dynamics at play, families are rejoicing at these releases. This alarming reality highlights the deep systemic issues surrounding detention practices and the treatment of prisoners in Israeli prisons.
