DaysofPal- The Palestinian youth Hazem Alwan, who spent eight months in Israeli prisons, described harrowing experiences he suffered from during his detention in the Israeli jails.
Released on Sunday, 12 January 2025, after eight months of imprisonment, Alwan revealed that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) used Palestinian detainees as human shields while storming homes and buildings in the northern Gaza Strip.
Alwan stated that he was interrogated inside Zikim prison in northern Gaza before being forced to participate in military operations as a human shield.
He said, “I was compelled to undertake dangerous tasks, including wearing an Israeli army uniform and helmet, being equipped with a camera, and entering potentially booby-trapped homes under threats of physical and psychological torture. The purpose was to inspect the premises before soldiers entered.”
Alwan revealed that the IOF used him as a human shield in Jabalia, forcing him to accompany military teams during the storming of homes and buildings—actions that posed a significant danger to his life.
He further explained that Palestinian detainees were subjected to severe beatings, often targeting sensitive areas, and were threatened with death if they refused to comply with orders.
According to Alwan, “Using Palestinians as human shields is a common practice in the northern Gaza Strip, with each military unit typically taking five to six detainees along during operations.”
Alwan also recounted a harrowing incident involving a fellow prisoner, Muhammad Nabhan.
He stated, “Nabhan was injured when a house was bombed while he was inside. He was taken to the hospital, but his fate remains unknown.”
Describing the circumstances of his arrest, Alwan explained that the IOF detained him while he was in Al-Fakhoura School, which was sheltering displaced people in Jabalia.
The soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded him before transferring him to Zikim Prison.
While being used as a human shield, Alwan witnessed the massive destruction in the northern Gaza Strip. He recounted that the IOF “forced detainees to enter houses first to ensure they were free of Palestinian resistance members or explosive devices.”
He added that some houses were empty, while “at other times, we found elderly civilians or families still taking shelter inside.”
Recently, the IOF released dozens of Palestinian detainees from Gaza in separate batches. Most of these detainees suffered from deteriorating health conditions due to torture during their detention.
Since launching its ground operation in Gaza on October 27, 2023, the IOF army has arrested thousands of Palestinians, including women, children, health workers, and civil defense personnel.
While a small number have been released, the fate of the majority remains unknown.
Human rights organizations and Israeli media have reported that Palestinian detainees from Gaza were subjected to torture and medical negligence, leading to the deaths of many in Israeli detention centers.
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