Gaza – Ten Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons have been released and transferred to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the Gaza Strip, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced on Sunday. The ICRC facilitated the transfer through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
According to a statement, the ICRC’s team also facilitated contact between the released detainees and their families, allowing them to reunite. The ICRC’s role was crucial in ensuring the safe passage and reunion of these individuals with their loved ones after a period of detention.
The Prisoners’ Media Office reported that nine of the released detainees had been held at the Sde Teiman prison. Sources from the office indicated that the detainees had been held for periods ranging from one to two months in Israeli detention facilities.
The ICRC expressed serious concerns regarding access to detainees held in Israeli detention centers. “The ICRC has not been able to access detainees held in Israeli detention facilities since October 2023,” the statement noted. They urged Israeli authorities to provide information on the whereabouts and status of all detainees and to allow the ICRC access to them, emphasizing that under international humanitarian law, detainees must be treated humanely, provided with acceptable conditions of detention, and allowed to communicate with their families.
The ICRC further stated that many Palestinian families are anxiously awaiting news of their detained relatives and are concerned about their health and safety. The committee continues to engage in dialogue with Israeli authorities to resume visits to all Palestinian detainees.
These releases are part of intermittent operations carried out by Israel, releasing prisoners from Gaza who have been detained for months in Israeli prisons. Former prisoners have reported that many of those released suffer from malnutrition and injuries resulting from severe physical torture within Israeli prisons. Upon release, many have arrived in deteriorated health conditions, reporting instances of torture, starvation, and humiliation inside Israeli prisons. The releases come amid ongoing concerns about the conditions and treatment of Palestinian detainees within Israeli facilities.
