DaysofPal- With a bittersweet smile etched on his face, Palestinian journalist Khader Abdel Aal gazes at his family members, his eyes filled with longing and disbelief.
“I was born again,” he says softly, recounting his harrowing journey from the notorious Israeli “Sde Teiman” prison—a place many describe as “the Guantanamo of Israel.”
Despite his release under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt and Qatar, the scars of his ordeal remain deeply embedded in both body and soul.
Violent Arrest
Abdel Aal, 31, was arrested during the devastating war launched by the Israeli occupation forces on October 7, 2023. At the time, he was working as a freelance journalist for local, Arab, and international media outlets, documenting life under siege in Gaza.
However, his profession offered no protection when the Israeli military stormed Al-Shifa Medical Complex on March 18, 2024.
That fateful day began with an ordinary errand—to obtain a birth certificate for his newborn daughter, Salma—but fate intervened.
Spending the night inside the hospital at the request of his older brother Ahmed, also a journalist displaced due to the destruction of their home, the two brothers planned to share a Ramadan iftar.
Instead, they found themselves ensnared in a brutal military assault that lasted two weeks, leaving the complex in ruins.
“They entered the hospital in the middle of the night, opening heavy fire,” Abdel Aal recalls, his voice trembling with emotion. “They took me without any clear charges, even though I told them I was a journalist. They didn’t just arrest me—they arrested journalistic and medical personnel and others.”
The Hell of Sde Teiman
What followed was 91 days of unimaginable torment in “Sde Teiman,” a detention center infamous for its inhumane conditions. Activists and human rights organizations have long condemned it as one of Israel’s most oppressive prisons.
“I fainted many times in the detention center, but they provided no medicine or treatment,” Abdel Aal reveals.”
All detainees were handcuffed and blindfolded, sitting on the ground for hours each day. Any act of defiance resulted in severe beatings with batons and kicks.”
The trauma extended beyond physical abuse. “I saw one of the detainees die right in front of me due to brutal torture,” he recounts, his voice breaking.
Deep fractures in his rib cage and chronic sleep deprivation left lasting effects, while psychological wounds continue to haunt him.
“The pain is not only in the body, but also in the soul,” he reflects, his eyes glistening with sorrow. “They wanted to break us, to silence our voices. But we refused to surrender.”
Moved to Ofer Prison
After three months of relentless torture, Abdel Aal was transferred to Ofer Prison, another symbol of Israeli oppression. There, detainees faced inhumane treatment, including inadequate nutrition and medical neglect.
For 346 days, he endured separation from his loved ones, counting down the moments until his eventual release as part of the exchange deal.
Yet, his freedom came with a heavy price. His brother Ahmed remains behind bars, enduring the same cycle of suffering and injustice. “It’s unbearable knowing that my brother is still there, facing the same horrors I experienced,” Abdel Aal laments.
A Cry for Justice
In a poignant appeal to the world, Abdel Aal questions the silence of human rights institutions amidst Israel’s systematic targeting of journalists. “Where are these organizations when over 200 journalists were killed during the war? Wasn’t that enough for the occupation? They want to kill the truth, but we will never stop exposing their crimes.”
His determination burns brightly despite the scars of his past. “We must hold those responsible accountable,” he insists. “The world needs to know about the injustice and oppression our people face every day. These crimes cannot go unpunished.”
As Abdel Aal resumes his work, driven by a mission to document the realities of life under occupation, his story stands as a testament to resilience and courage. Though freed from the confines of Sde Teiman, his spirit remains bound to the struggle for justice—not just for himself, but for all who suffer under the shadow of oppression.
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