Gaza Herald – Despite the ceasefire, some 2,000 Palestinian detainees from Gaza were subjected to systematic torture and mistreatment in Israeli prisons and detention facilities, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Media Office.
The prisoners, arrested amid the ongoing genocide that saw over 14,000 Gazans detained since October 7, 2023, were held under harsh winter conditions in facilities including Ofer, Negev, Sde Teyman, and Rakefet, with blankets and mattresses withheld for long periods.
Reports indicated that detainees faced severe food deprivation, receiving minimal rations that left many underweight and with deteriorating health, particularly the sick and wounded. Restrictions on religious practices, denial of prayer and Qur’ans, limited time outside cells, and prohibited hygiene contributed to serious skin and health conditions.
Since the start of the genocide, 51 identified detainees from Gaza have died under these conditions, with dozens more unaccounted for, many classified as “unlawful combatants” and held under enforced disappearance.
The media office called for urgent international intervention to secure the release of Gaza prisoners, halt violations immediately, allow independent inspections, and hold the Israeli authorities accountable under international law.
