DaysofPal- In a damning statement issued Saturday evening, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) condemned the Israeli occupation forces for engaging in systematic physical and psychological torture against Palestinian prisoners.
The PPS highlighted that the latest method of humiliation involves forcing prisoners to wear jackets and bracelets emblazoned with threatening phrases before their release.
Systematic Humiliation and Torture
The PPS described these acts as part of an organized campaign of terrorism aimed at dehumanizing both prisoners and their families.
According to the statement, the Israeli prison system has employed every conceivable tool of abuse, including physical torture, medical neglect, starvation, and verbal intimidation.
The group argues that this pattern of behavior is not new but has intensified following recent liberation operations by resistance groups.
Prisoners are reportedly subjected to severe beatings by repression units just before their release, leaving many with lasting injuries or health complications.
These actions, according to witnesses, are deliberately designed to “kill the joy of freedom” and undermine the revered status of Palestinian prisoners within the national consciousness.
Health Crises Among Released Prisoners
Among those recently freed were 36 prisoners serving life sentences and 333 detainees from Gaza who had been arrested since October 7, 2023.
Many of these individuals are now facing critical health challenges due to years of mistreatment while incarcerated.
Some have been transferred to hospitals immediately upon release, underscoring the severity of their conditions.
Two prominent cases mentioned in the statement include Mansour Muqaddah and Iyad Haribat, both of whom suffered extensively under what the Prisoners Club described as “medical crimes.”
Their plight serves as a stark reminder of the broader humanitarian crisis affecting thousands of detainees still held in Israeli prisons.
Targeting Families Through Threats and Violence
Beyond the direct targeting of prisoners, the Israeli authorities have also engaged in acts of terror against the families of detainees. Reports indicate that threats of arrest, assassination, home raids, vandalism, and destruction have become commonplace.
Such measures extend the cycle of trauma beyond the walls of the prison, impacting entire communities.
Ongoing Detention and Enforced Disappearances
Despite the recent releases, over ten thousand Palestinians remain detained in Israeli prisons, excluding hundreds more in Gaza subjected to enforced disappearance.
The Prisoners Club warns that prolonged detention exacerbates risks to the well-being and survival of these individuals, emphasizing the urgency of addressing their plight.
Ceasefire Agreement and Exchange Process
As part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades—the military wing of Hamas—released three Israeli captives Saturday morning.
In response, Israeli occupation freed 369 Palestinian prisoners, marking the sixth batch of the first phase of the prisoner exchange deal.
This phase of the truce, which began on January 19, is set to last 42 days, during which negotiations will continue for subsequent phases.
However, despite these developments, the situation remains dire for Palestinians in Gaza, where approximately 160,000 people have been killed or injured since October 7, 2023, with over 14,000 reported missing.
Call for Global Action
The rights group called on international bodies and human rights organizations to intervene decisively to end the genocidal policies perpetuated by the Israeli occupation.
They urged global solidarity to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and ensure justice for the victims.
“The goal of these heinous crimes,” the statement concluded, “is not only to harm our people physically but to erase the dignity and resilience of Palestinian prisoners from memory. We must resist this erasure together.”
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