Children in Gaza show signs of malnutrition and abuse after detention in Israel
Palestinian children released from Israeli prison have shown signs of malnutrition and mistreatment, according to testimony from former detainees.
The Israeli army on Thursday released 10 teenage boys after detaining them for nearly a month. They had been captured at al-Shakoush aid distribution area in northwest Rafah.
A reporter for Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, who saw the teens after the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) transferred them to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, said they bore signs of severe physical abuse and exhaustion.
Karam Hamdi Hussein, one of those taken, said they were subjected to regular beatings and mistreatment while they were detained.
“We spent an entire month under constant beatings and daily humiliation,” he said.
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He added that a group of children was being held in Israel's notorious Sde Teiman prison, which has gained notoriety for its abuse of detainees.
Al Jazeera also reported on Friday on the abuse released Palestinian detainees said they had received in custody.
One prisoner who reached the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah was unable to move and showed visible signs of torture.
He was seized from an aid area in the southern part of the enclave, and spoke of harsh conditions in Israel military camps.
“They electrocuted us and threw grenades at us,” said Asfour, who was arrested while trying to get food.
“We were under torture for a whole month."
As of May, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office said the total number of Palestinians detained at some point since the start of the war on 7 October 2023 is above 12,000.
Despite Thursday's releases, thousands of Palestinians from Gaza are still detained.
At least 44 people have died in prison, the office added.
The release of detainees comes as Gaza continues to suffer widespread famine as a result of Israel's blockade of the enclave.
With basic food items vanishing from markets and families enduring days without enough to survive, scenes of people collapsing from hunger and sheer exhaustion have become increasingly common across Gaza's streets.
Eyewitnesses have recounted the gruesome scenes to Middle East Eye reporters in Gaza.
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