Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons claim they were subjected to mistreatment and group punishment by prison officials, following the Hamas assaults on Israel on October 7.
Reports have surfaced of them being subjected to physical assault with rods, targeted by restrained dogs, and being deprived of their clothing, food, and bedding.
A female inmate reported that she was subjected to threats of sexual assault, and also claimed that the guards utilized tear gas on prisoners within their cells on two separate occasions.
The BBC interviewed six individuals, each of whom claimed to have been physically abused prior to their release from prison.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society has reported accusations of guards mistreating detained individuals, including instances of urination on those in handcuffs. They also claim that six inmates have lost their lives while being held by Israeli authorities within the last seven weeks.
Israel asserts that every one of its inmates is held in compliance with legal regulations.
Mohammed Nazzal, an 18-year-old, was among those freed by Israel this week, as part of a swap for Israeli women and children being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
He has been detained without any formal charges in Nafha Prison since August, and he claims to be unaware of the reasons behind his arrest.
Mohammed extended an invitation for me to visit his residence, located through a twisted lane in the Qabatiya hamlet, close to Jenin, situated in the northern part of the seized West Bank.
The relatives' gathering area on the highest floor of the aged home was clouded with tobacco smoke from multiple cigarettes. One of the cousins was going around the guests, offering them coffee from a container and a large stack of small paper cups.
Surrounded by a line of male family members, Mohammed sat with both hands heavily wrapped, held out rigidly in front of him as if he were a boxer, with only the ends of his thumbs visible.
He stated that a decade ago, guards from an Israeli jail entered his cell brandishing a microphone and speaker. They attempted to incite the inmates by shouting their names and applauding loudly.
"When they noticed we weren't responding," he recounts, "they began to assault us."
They organized us in such a way that the older captives were placed at the rear while the younger ones were positioned up front. They seized me and began to assault me. I attempted to shield my head, while they aimed to fracture my legs and hands.
The relatives presented us with health records and radiographic images from Palestinian physicians in Ramallah who checked Mohammed post his release on Monday.
We presented the X-ray images to a pair of physicians in the UK, who verified that they depicted broken bones in both hands. This revelation did not astonish Mohammed.
"He conveyed to me that initially, he experienced severe discomfort," he shares. "After some time, he realized they were fractured, leading him to cease using them. He only utilized them while using the restroom."
He conveys that his fellow inmates assisted him with eating, drinking, and personal hygiene, and he refrained from requesting medical assistance from the guards due to the apprehension of being assaulted once more.
The Israel Prison Service has challenged Mohammed's account, stating that he underwent a medical examination prior to his release from jail, and no health issues were detected.
The correctional department also made public a video showing the young man exiting the jail and getting on a Red Cross bus prior to his discharge, asserting that this footage disproves his allegations.
The video shows the young individual's hands without any bandages, seemingly resting at his sides, even as he boards the bus. However, for the majority of the video, his hands are not visible.
This video is unable to be viewed
In order to view this video, you must activate JavaScript in your browser. Israel has issued a video which they assert demonstrates that Mohammed was not assaulted while in prison.
Mohammed informed us that he received his initial medical care on a bus operated by the Red Cross.
A health document from a Ramallah hospital on the day he returned home suggested that a surgical implant may be necessary if his fractures failed to naturally recover.
We requested the Red Cross to verify Mohammed's tale. Their response was that they communicate directly with the detention authorities if they have any worries regarding the health of detainees. As a result of this interaction, they refrain from discussing individual instances in public.
Mohammed notes a shift in the conduct of wardens within Israeli prisons following the Hamas assaults on October 7.
He claims that the guards assaulted them with kicks and strikes from batons, and he recounts an incident where one guard stomped on his face.
"He carries on, "They entered with their canines. They unleashed the dogs on us, followed by assaulting us physically."
"They removed our bedding, our apparel, our cushions, and our meals were tossed onto the ground. Everyone was petrified."
He displays the scars on his back and shoulder, claiming they were caused by those beatings.
"The dog that assaulted me had a muzzle with extremely sharp corners – its muzzle and nails left scratches all over my body," he confides in me.
He claims such assaults occurred twice at Megiddo Prison, and countless times at Nafha Prison.
We have conversed with other Palestinian inmates who have reported a comparable change within Israel's correctional facilities following the assaults by Hamas. They interpreted it as Israel's "retaliation" against Palestinian detainees for Hamas's deeds.
Abdullah al-Zaghary, who leads the Palestinian Prisoners Society, shared that there were numerous reports of inmates observing their fellow prisoners being brutally assaulted, with injuries to their faces and bodies. He also mentioned claims of guards disrespectfully relieving themselves on prisoners who were handcuffed.
We reached out to the Israel Prison Service for their statement regarding these accusations. They maintained that all inmates were held in accordance with the law and were granted all the fundamental rights mandated by law.
"The statement conveyed that we are uninformed about the allegations you mentioned. However, it's important to note that inmates and detainees are entitled to lodge a complaint, which will be thoroughly investigated by the relevant authorities."
Lama Khater, who was set free from jail earlier this week, shared a video on social media claiming that she was blatantly threatened with sexual assault by an intelligence officer right after her detention at the end of October.
"She narrated to the interviewer on the video how she was restrained with handcuffs and had her vision obstructed with a blindfold," she recalls. "They terrorized me with threats of sexual assault… It was obvious that their primary objective was to inst
The assertions were reportedly made by her attorney, but the inmate herself refuted them, according to Israel. The penal institution lodged a grievance for provocation, they stated.
Lama Khater communicated to us over the phone that female inmates, herself included, were indeed subjected to threats of sexual assault. Moreover, she mentioned that tear gas had been deployed on the prisoners in their sleeping quarters at Damon Prison.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society has reported a significant increase in Palestinian fatalities in detention following the attacks on October 7, with six individuals succumbing in prison since then.
Israel didn't directly respond to our inquiry, instead they stated that four inmates had passed away on separate days in recent weeks. However, they claimed that the prison administration was unaware of what led to their deaths.
Mohammed Nazzal from Qabatiya village mentions that he continues to experience discomfort in his hands, particularly during the night.
His sibling Mutaz informed me that the young man he once knew hadn't come back from prison.
"He asserted, "This isn't the Mohammed we're familiar with. He was valiant and fearless. However, now his spirit is shattered and consumed by fear."
He disclosed that the Israeli military had conducted an operation in the city of Jenin, located 4km (2.5 miles) away, on the preceding night. It was evident how terrified he was.
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Additional information provided by Scarlett Barter.
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