Before and after: How Palestinians in Israeli prisons became the living dead

By Alireza Akbari

After languishing in Israeli prisons for 23 years, Palestinian brothers Ibrahim, Musa, and Khalil Sarahneh walked free on Saturday, released in the sixth round of the swap deal known as Toufan al-Ahrar (Flood of the Free).

The Sarahneh brothers were among 369 Palestinian detainees freed in the latest phase of a ceasefire agreement between the Gaza-based resistance group Hamas and Israel on February 15.

Their release brought the total number of Palestinians liberated under the swap deal that is part of the ceasefire deal to 1,138 over the past two months.

Originally from the town of Silwan in occupied Al Quds, the Sarahneh brothers stepped off a bus at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, where hundreds of Palestinians had gathered to greet their return.

The release of the Palestinian abductees followed Hamas’ handover of three Israeli captives to the Red Cross earlier in the day. The exchange was carried out under the supervision of the Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades and Saraya al-Quds, armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad respectively.

While Khalil was deported to Egypt, his brothers Ibrahim and Musa were immediately transferred to hospitals due to their critical health conditions.

The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that its medical teams transported four newly freed abductees from the reception site in Ramallah to medical facilities, including Ibrahim and Musa.

Eyewitnesses and reports described many of the released men as visibly frail, showing signs of severe malnutrition and physical mistreatment. Some required urgent medical attention upon arrival.

Among those freed was Abdul Karim Mushtaha, who spoke on behalf of his fellow abductees.

"Our true birthday is not the day we were born. Our true birthday is the day we are freed from prison and from the oppression of the jailer," he was quoted as saying.

"A year and more of suffering and deprivation, of sickness without treatment, of pain," he added, underscoring the hardships endured by Palestinian inmates in Israeli occupation prisons.

Among those freed was Adel Subaih, who expressed relief and joy at being liberated. “I can’t believe I’m in Gaza… they forcibly amputated my leg,” Subaih said, tears streaming down his face.

A viral video surfaced shortly after his release, showing Subaih struggling to walk with the aid of a stick, his movements slow and laborious due to the amputation of one of his legs.

Many other released abductees showed visible signs of torture, with some bearing scratches, wounds, and shrunken faces—clear indicators of the medical neglect and physical abuse they endured in Israeli occupation prisons.

The Sarahneh brothers -- Ibrahim, Khalil, and Musa -- from the Dheisheh refugee camp, each served life sentences in Israeli prisons, with Ibrahim facing six life terms.

Active members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades during the Al-Aqsa Intifada, they were detained and sentenced by Israel for their roles in resistance groups.

Ibrahim’s wife, Irina Sarahneh, a Ukrainian national, was also abducted. She was threatened with deportation but chose to remain in Palestine. Irina was eventually freed in the 2011 Wafa al-Ahrar exchange, reuniting with their two daughters, Ghazala and Yasmine.

Iyad Haribat, from Sakaka near Dura, south of Al-Khalil, was another detainee whose suffering underscores the brutality faced by Palestinian detainees.

Haribat, sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, has endured severe medical neglect and multiple assassination attempts within Israeli custody.

Imprisoned since 2002, his health has deteriorated dramatically.

In 2014, he was placed in isolation for eight months and reportedly injected with an unidentified substance. Upon his release, he was unable to recognize his own mother or brother.

Haribat’s condition worsened over the years. In 2017, he suffered a health crisis following a prison attack, and in 2021, he developed a septic infection, requiring five surgeries.

Samir Ghaith, from the al-Thawri neighborhood in occupied Al Quds, was freed after serving a life sentence in Israeli prisons. Jailed since 2002 at the age of 18, Ghaith was sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional 20 years.

Despite the harsh conditions, he managed to earn his high school diploma behind bars and participated in several hunger strikes in protest of his incarceration.

He was subjected to solitary confinement and frequent transfers as retaliation for his activism. Tragically, he was unable to bid farewell to his father, who passed away while Ghaith was still imprisoned.

Mahmoud Abu Wahdan, from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus city of occupied West Bank, was released on Saturday after serving more than 23 years in Israeli prisons.

He had been sentenced to three life terms for 30 years for his resistance work with the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

During his imprisonment, Abu Wahdan suffered from extensive medical neglect and mistreatment, including long periods in solitary confinement and a denial of family visits for years.

Mansour Shreim, from Tulkarem city in occupied West Bank, had been imprisoned since 2002, serving 14 life sentences plus 50 years for his role as a leader in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement, during the Al-Aqsa Intifada.

Shreim had been a target of Israeli occupation forces since 2000 and was subjected to intense torture during his four-month interrogation.

His time in prison was marked by extended periods of solitary confinement, including stints from 2003 to 2009 and after 2011. In 2014, he was once again subjected to interrogation and torture for months.

Shreim still managed to earn his bachelor’s degree while incarcerated, showing exemplary resilience.

He is the brother of martyrs Mamoun and Nashat, with Nashat being martyred in 1998 under torture while in Israeli custody. His other brother, Thaer, remains imprisoned.

Ahmed Abu Khader, from Silat al-Dhahr near Jenin in the occupied West Bank, was released after serving 23 years in Israeli occupation prisons.

Arrested in 2002 after being shot in the leg during a confrontation with Israeli forces in Tubas, Abu Khader’s health deteriorated significantly due to complications from his injuries.

A leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in both Jenin and Nablus, Abu Khader was sentenced to 11 life sentences plus 50 years.

Throughout his imprisonment, his parents were unwavering in their support, actively participating in efforts to raise awareness of Palestinians languishing in Israeli jails.

Mohammed Musleh and Ahmed Barghouti were reunited and freed in Egypt after serving 23 years in Israeli prisons, each having endured multiple life sentences.

Their release marks a huge moment of liberation, following years of hardship and separation.

Abdel-Rahman Musleh, from the Umm al-Sharait neighborhood in al-Bireh, was imprisoned by Israeli forces for 24 years, since February 2001.

He was sentenced to nine life sentences plus 50 years for his role in resisting the occupation with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades during the Al-Aqsa Intifada.

In addition to the toll of his imprisonment, Israeli occupation forces demolished his home, which had housed his wife and four-month-old son, Ahmed.

During his incarceration, Musleh endured harsh conditions, including a ban on visits from his wife for several years. His mother passed away in 2017 and he was denied the chance to say goodbye.

Musleh shared a strong bond with Barghouti, and they were close companions prior to his arrest.

Mohammed Nayfeh, from the Shweikeh area north of Tulkarem, was freed after 23 years of imprisonment. Nayfeh had served 14 life sentences in Israeli prisons, having been sentenced by military courts for his leadership in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades during the Al-Aqsa Intifada.

Since his arrest in 2002, Nayfeh’s life behind bars has been marked by severe deprivation. He was repeatedly denied family visits, placed in solitary confinement, and subjected to harsh conditions.

In 2011, he was transferred to al-Jalameh prison for interrogation, resulting in an additional nine months being tacked onto his already lengthy sentence.

Despite undergoing these brutal conditions, Nayfeh remained a symbol of resilience, continuing to fight against his unjust imprisonment.

Amjad Taqatqa, from Beit Fajjar in Bethlehem, was released after 23 years in Israeli prisons.

Arrested in 2002, Taqatqa was separated from his two young daughters — his eldest, Samah was just a year and a half old, and his youngest, Anaheed, was only three months old at the time.

He endured eight months of intense interrogation, during which he was accused of recruiting and preparing martyr Andaleeb Taqatqa who carried out an operation in occupied Al Quds that resulted in the deaths of six settlers and injuries to 85 others.

Throughout his imprisonment, Taqatqa also faced several periods of solitary confinement.

Nael Obeid, from Issawiya in occupied Al Quds, was reunited with his mother after spending 21 years in Israeli prisons.

Obeid had been serving nine life sentences, and his family home was repeatedly attacked by Israeli occupation forces to intimidate and threaten his family members.

Despite this repression, Obeid returned home, only to find himself surrounded by Israeli regime soldiers who attempted to intimidate both him and his community.

Earlier, Israeli forces had stormed his home, forcing out relatives who were not considered "first-degree family members."

Imprisoned since 2004, Obeid had been sentenced to seven life sentences plus 30 years.

Throughout his time in detention, he was frequently held in solitary confinement, often in retaliation for his involvement in hunger strikes and protests within the prisoners' movement.

Samer Abu Kwaik, from Al-Amari camp near Ramallah, held his newborn son for the first time after his long-awaited release.

His son, born in 2023, was conceived using smuggled sperm. Abu Kwaik, who spent 23 years in Israeli prisons serving three life sentences plus 25 years, was arrested in 2002 for his role in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and his resistance against the Israeli regime.

Throughout his imprisonment, he faced severe medical neglect and health issues. In 2016, while still incarcerated, he married Shireen Shamasneh from Ramallah city in the occupied West Bank, and together they welcomed their son in 2023, making him the 119th “Ambassador of Freedom.”

Waddah Ali al-Bazra, from Nablus city in the occupied West Bank, has been imprisoned since 2002, serving three life sentences for his role in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades during the Second Intifada.

Throughout his time in prison, al-Bazra was an active participant in hunger strikes and protests.

He was denied the chance to bid farewell to his mother before her death, as well as family visits.

Despite enduring severe physical pain due to a stomach hernia and inflammation, he completed his bachelor's degree. His brother, Firas, and cousin, Basil, are both former prisoners.

Amir Abu Radha, from al-Amari refugee camp near Ramallah, was just 15 years old when he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1990, making him the youngest Palestinian ever to receive such a sentence from the Israeli kangaroo courts.

After being released in a 2000 prisoner exchange, Abu Radha was re-arrested in April 2002 and sentenced to life plus 30 years.

During his imprisonment, he lost both his parents and endured severe health problems, exacerbated by the Israeli prison authorities' medical neglect.

His brother, Musa, was released in January, and the two now await Amir’s eventual release.

Khaled al-Shouli, from Asira al-Shamaliya near Nablus, grew up alongside his mother and two brothers, and became involved in the 1987 Palestinian Intifada at a young age.

At just 16, he was arrested along with his brothers and spent three years in Israeli prisons before his release. He was rearrested less than a year later, only to be freed again following the signing of the Oslo Accords.

In 2000, during the Al-Aqsa Intifada, al-Shouli was shot by Israeli forces. A bullet lodged in his spine, causing severe injuries and leaving him with long-term disability in his right leg.

Israeli forces pursued him for two years on charges of injuring two Israeli soldiers before finally capturing him in 2003. He endured over 75 days of torture during his interrogation, ultimately being sentenced to life imprisonment.

Throughout his time in prison, al-Shouli was denied family visits, and his mother passed away without ever being able to see him.

After serving 23 years in Israeli occupation prisons, including three life sentences and an additional 20 years, Murad al-Ajlouni was freed on Saturday.

Hailing from Kafr Aqab in occupied Al-Quds, al-Ajlouni had been imprisoned since 2002, sentenced for his resistance activities with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades during the Al-Aqsa Intifada.

Meanwhile, Osama al-Ashqar, 42, who was also detained in 2002 and sentenced to eight life sentences, has undergone a remarkable transformation. A recent image of the freed captive reveals the toll of his imprisonment.

After being released from Israeli prisons, he was exiled—one of many individuals who have faced both physical and psychological scars from years of confinement.

Liberated Palestinian detainee Ghaleb Al-Radi, from northern Gaza, has been released as part of a prisoner exchange deal, but visible signs of torture on his body have raised concerns.

His frail condition suggests he endured harsh conditions in Israeli detention, adding to growing reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees.

Journalist Ahmed Shuqoura raised the victory sign after his release from Israeli detention as part of the exchange deal. He was arrested recently and faced difficult conditions while in custody.

Shuqoura’s release from Israeli detention was marked by an image that quickly spread across social media—his face gaunt, his body emaciated, a testament to the ordeal he endured behind bars.

Once a resolute journalist, Shuqoura emerged visibly weakened, his frail frame bearing the toll of what witnesses describe as harsh and inhumane conditions in Israeli prisons.

Before-and-after images of Bahauddin Nasr, a recently freed Palestinian detainee, starkly illustrate the toll of his incarceration. Nasr, who was released in Gaza as part of a recent prisoner exchange deal, appears visibly frail and weakened compared to earlier photographs.

Wael Jumaa from northern Gaza was released recently with visible marks of mistreatment.

Held for 15 months following his capture from Gaza, Jumaa reports enduring harsh conditions, including severe physical abuse and exposure to harmful substances.

A before-and-after photo of Iyad Abed, a freed Palestinian detainee, shows a significant deterioration in his health. He experienced prolonged deprivation, including limited access to food and medical care, which contributed to his weakened state.

Nader Jamal Hussein, a freed detainee from the Jabalia refugee camp, was taken to the European Hospital in Khan Younis after his release.

His health condition remains a concern as he, like many others, faced difficult conditions in prison.

He showed visible injuries and bruises, significant weight loss, and was unable to stand on his feet, bearing testimony to the brutal torture he was subjected to in Israeli prisons.

Ibrahim Mohammad Khaleel Al-Shaweesh, a resident of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, was released earlier this month after spending nearly a year in Israeli jails.

He was abducted on December 10, 2023, from a displacement shelter in northern Gaza and initially held in border barracks, where he was subjected to brutal torture.

Following his release, a video of Al-Shaweesh quickly went viral, where he spoke out about the horrific conditions he and his fellow Palestinians endured while held by Israel.

"I was initially detained in what is called barracks on the border. These barracks had forms of torture that were indescribable," he was quoted as saying.

He went on to reveal the extent of the abuse he suffered.

“For 45 days, I was blindfolded and forced to kneel... blindfolded and shackled. Then they transferred me to Naqab prison, where the torture continued. In Naqab, we were subjected to electric shocks, and dogs were also used as part of the abuse.”

Freed in late January 2025, Mohammed Sabah, 21, from Sur Baher, Al-Quds, was left to suffer the horrific consequences of scabies along with the devastating effects of starvation that reduced him to skin and bones.

Sabah was first imprisoned in 2019 at the age of 15, serving a 10-year sentence in Israeli occupation prisons, accused of attempting to carry out a stabbing operation against Israeli occupation forces.

He was the first in his family to be arrested. Later, his father Khaled and brother Musab were also taken on February 5, 2022, and his brother Munib was also imprisoned, receiving a 36-month sentence.

After Sabah’s release, images of his poor physical condition went viral on social media platforms, triggering alarm and concern.

Users slammed the Israeli regime for the inhumane treatment meted out to Palestinian abductees, drawing sharp comparisons between the freed Palestinian abductees and Israeli captives, who were returned in full mental and physical health.

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