Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons claim they were subjected to mistreatment and group punishments by the jail guards following the attacks on Israel by Hamas on October 7.
They recounted experiences of being assaulted with rods, being attacked by dogs with muzzles, and having their attire, meals, and blankets confiscated.
A woman inmate has reported being subjected to threats of sexual assault, and stated that on two occasions, the prison guards used tear gas on prisoners within their cells.
The BBC had conversations with six individuals, each one claiming they were physically abused prior to their release from prison.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society alleges that certain guards have been accused of desecrating restrained inmates by urinating on them. They also report that the death toll of detainees under Israeli control has reached six in the previous seven weeks.
Israel asserts that all its inmates are held in accordance with legal procedures.
Mohammed Nazzal, an 18-year-old, was among those freed by Israel this week, as part of a swap for Israeli women and children taken captive by Hamas in Gaza.
He has been detained without any formal accusations in Nafha Prison since August and claims that he is unsure of the reason for his arrest.
Mohammed extended an invitation to me to visit his residence, located in a twisting pathway in the town of Qabatiya, close to Jenin, in the northern region of the occupied West Bank.
The familial gathering space in the uppermost part of the aged home was clouded with the fumes from numerous lit cigarettes. A relative was moving around the guests, offering them coffee from a jug and a skyscraping stack of petite paper cups.
Mohammed was seated, surrounded by a line of male family members. Both of his hands were heavily wrapped in bandages, held out rigidly in front of him in a manner reminiscent of a boxer, with the ends of his thumbs slightly visible.
He claims that a week and a half ago, Israeli jail wardens entered his cell carrying a loudspeaker and microphone, attempting to agitate the inmates by applauding and shouting their names.
"When they noticed our lack of response," he asserts, "they began to assault us."
We were organized in such a way that the older captives were positioned at the rear while the younger ones were placed upfront. I was seized and subjected to physical abuse. I did my best to shield my head, while they were focused on causing harm to my legs and hands.
The family provided us with medical documentation and radiographic images from doctors in Ramallah, Palestine who had evaluated Mohammed following his release on Monday.
We presented the X-ray images to a pair of UK-based physicians, who corroborated that they depicted breaks in both hands. This didn't catch Mohammed off guard.
"At first, I was experiencing severe discomfort," he confides in me. "Eventually, I realized they were fractured, so I ceased utilizing them. I would only resort to their use when I needed to visit the restroom."
He reveals that his fellow inmates assisted him with eating, drinking, and going to the restroom. He refrained from seeking medical assistance from the guards due to the apprehension of being physically abused once more.
The Israel Prison Service has contradicted Mohammed's account, stating that a medical professional had checked him prior to his release from jail and found no health issues.
The correctional facility also publicized a video showing the young man exiting the jail and getting on a Red Cross vehicle prior to being set free, stating that this confirms his allegations are untrue.
The video shows the adolescent with his hands unwrapped and seemingly at his sides, even as he steps onto the bus. However, for the majority of the clip, his hands are not visible.
This footage cannot be viewed.
For the video to play, you must activate JavaScript in your browser. Israel has published a clip alleging to show that Mohammed was not subjected to physical abuse while incarcerated.
Mohammed informed us that his initial medical care was provided on a Red Cross bus.
A health document from a Ramallah hospital on the day he returned home suggested that he may require a plate implant if his fractures do not mend on their own.
We sought verification of Mohammed's account from the Red Cross. Their response was: "If we are worried about the health status of any detainee, we directly engage with the detaining authorities. As a result of such interactions, we refrain from publicly discussing specific cases."
Mohammed mentions that the conduct of wardens in Israeli prisons shifted following the assault by Hamas on October 7.
He claims the security personnel assaulted them with kicks and beatings from batons, and recounts an incident where one officer stomped on his face.
"He goes on, "They entered with their hounds, allowing them to assault us before they began to physically assault us themselves."
They removed our bedding, our attire, our cushions, and our meals were discarded onto the ground. Everyone was petrified.
He reveals to me the scars on his back and shoulder, claiming they are the aftermath of these assaults.
"He narrated to me how the muzzled dog with razor-sharp edges assaulted him, leaving his body covered in scratches from its muzzle and claws.
He claims that such assaults occurred twice in Megiddo Prison, and countless times in Nafha Prison.
We've conversed with other Palestinian inmates who have related a comparable change within Israeli prisons following the attacks by Hamas. They interpret this as a form of "retaliation" against Palestinian detainees for Hamas' deeds.
Abdullah al-Zaghary, the leader of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, informed us that numerous inmates reported seeing their fellow prisoners brutally attacked on 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 reaction to these accusations. They asserted that all inmates were held in accordance with legal regulations and were granted all fundamental rights as mandated by law.
"The assertions you've mentioned are unknown to us," the announcement read. "However, it's important to note that inmates and those under custody are entitled to lodge grievances, which will be thoroughly scrutinized by relevant officials."
Earlier this week, Lama Khater was freed from jail. She posted a video on her social media platforms claiming that she was overtly threatened with sexual assault by an intelligence officer right after her detainment in the final days of October.
"She shared with the interviewer in the video that she was shackled and had her vision obstructed," she narrated. "They issued threats of sexual assault against me… It was evident their intention was to instill fear in me."
The prisoner refuted the allegations made by her attorney, according to Israel. The prison administration lodged a complaint of instigation, they stated.
Lama Khater confirmed over a phone call that female inmates, herself included, had indeed faced threats of sexual assault. She also revealed that tear gas was deployed against prisoners in their sleeping quarters at Damon Prison.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society has reported a significant increase in the number of Palestinian fatalities in detention following the attacks on October 7, with six individuals losing their lives in prison since then.
Israel didn't directly respond to our query, but revealed that four inmates passed away on separate occasions in recent weeks. However, the prison service claimed to be unaware of the reasons for their demise.
Mohammed Nazzal from Qabatiya village mentions that he continues to experience hand pain, which intensifies during the night.
Mutaz, his brother, informed me that the adolescent he used to know never came back from prison.
"He claimed, "This isn't the Mohammed we recognize." He was bold and fearless. Currently, his heart is shattered and consumed by fear."
He mentioned that the night before, the Israeli military had conducted an operation in the city of Jenin, which is 4km (2.5 miles) distant: "His fear was clearly visible."
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