DaysofPal – In Gaza, scenes of joy and sorrow unfolded on Monday as five Palestinian detainees unexpectedly released by Israel were reunited with their families after months in detention. The freed prisoners were transferred via the Kerem Abu Salem crossing to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical examinations, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Tearful family members embraced their loved ones in emotional reunions outside the hospital. Yet, amid the celebrations, many others went home heartbroken, still waiting for relatives who remain imprisoned or unaccounted for.
Earlier in the day, Israeli authorities handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians who had died in custody or during military operations. The process of identifying them is expected to begin on Tuesday.
According to Gaza’s Prisoners’ Media Office, field examinations revealed signs of severe torture and execution, with some victims reportedly restrained or run over by military vehicles before death.
Despite these developments, Israeli attacks on Gaza continued. In northern Gaza City, an Israeli strike hit a school in the Shujayea neighborhood that had been sheltering displaced families.
The attack, which occurred during a wedding celebration, injured three Palestinians, including a child. In southern Rafah, three more people were killed, while ongoing bombardments and demolitions were reported in eastern Khan Younis.
The newly released detainees described their imprisonment as “months of torment,” marked by starvation, humiliation, and torture. Human rights monitors have long accused Israel of inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners, particularly those detained during the ongoing war.
Israel had previously freed about 1,700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza on October 13, under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey with U.S. mediation. The deal, implemented in phases starting October 10, aimed to ease tensions and secure reciprocal releases.
Still, many in Gaza say that peace remains elusive. Even under the declared ceasefire, Israeli bombardments and raids continue, leaving Palestinians fearful that no place is truly safe. As one resident put it, “They can release our prisoners or our dead, but they will never stop targeting us.”
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