The release of Palestinian prisoners particularly women and children held under the Israeli law of “Administrative Detention” from the Zionist regime’s prisons has shown shocking revelations. The release of 90 prisoners from what Israelis have called “detention” formed part of the cease fire agreement to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. However, the release of these inmates especially the women has been tempered by the conditions they were kept in. And the ordeal they faced at the hands of the prison guards. The treatment of the detainees was such that they were malnourished, exhausted, and in some cases were left unrecognisable compared to their former selves before they were detained. Under administrative detention in Israeli law a prisoner can be held for months without trial or charge.
Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank released 90 prisoners, including women and children, in the first batch of releases following the ceasefire agreement. Khalida Jarrar, a key figure in the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), left prison with her hair turned white after months of solitary confinement. The 61-year-old, an MP, feminist and prisoners’ rights advocate, had been held in administrative detention – a policy that allows Israeli authorities to hold individuals without charge or trial – since 26 December 2023.Bottom of Form In August she was moved to solitary confinement as a “form of punishment”, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, and held for six months in a one metre by 1.5 metre cell at Ayalon (Ramla) prison. According to Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi, all of the prisoners released on Monday had endured “severe ill treatment including verbal and physical violence, deprivation and isolation.”
The Israeli authorities know no bounds when it comes to silencing the resistance of the activists, politicians and leaders of the Palestinians; who oppose them. The continued abuse and harassment meted out to the inmates in these prisons like Jarrar above still continues. It should create anger and disgust amongst the international community. But it may end up taking a special brand of people to call for sanctions against the Zionist regime. International sanctions and boycotts were instrumental in bringing down the apartheid regime in South Africa. Jarrar and the inmates who suffered the same deplorable faith of being deliberately isolated like her in administrative detention stand as a testament to human perseverance. The Zionist regime has been allowed to have free range to act as judge and jury. It is time the international community harkens to the truth brough fought by Palestinian inmates and end trade with the Zionists.
The idea of sanctions and cutting of trade and business to Israel sounds like wishful thinking. US President Donald Trump will not budge on support for the Zionist regime. Preferring business as usual.
“Israeli prisons are notorious for their abuse and torture of Palestinian prisoners. We rejoice at the release of our women and child captives, and look forward to the release of the remaining 11,000. Freedom is priceless,” she (Ashrawi) added in a post on X. Ablaa Sadaat, who was held in Ofer prison under administrative detention, told Middle East Eye that the living conditions in Israeli prisons were “absolutely inhumane”. “From the lack of food and medical care, to the treatment [of prisoners], it’s horrible. They try to break the prisoners’ sense of self, and make us feel like we’re less than them and that they are above us and have authority over us… They try to break our sense of self and our pride,” Sadaat said.
The former detainee, whose husband Ahmad Sadaat is still in Israeli detention, said this level of mistreatment has “never been seen during the entire history of [Palestine’s] occupation.”
The Israeli Authorities have long been experts in the art of imposing brutality. It is worth noting that the Prisons where the Palestinians are being held in “administrative detention” have largely been left to their own devices. The occupied territory of the West Bank and its prisons are under the control of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). This means they are not directly accountable to any civilian local authority. The treatment of Palestinian civilians in these “detention centres” or prisons are akin to how the regime of North Korea treats its own political dissidents. Yet Washington and the other world powers such as those in Europe turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the Tel Aviv regime and the IDF. It was this laissez faire attitude that created the conditions that led to Hamas launching the attacks it did on the Seventh of October.
The demands of the Hamas militant group for the the release of the prisoners in administrative detention which included children highlighted the imposition and precision of Israeli repression to the world. A new chapter is being written. The previous behaviour of the world towards the situation in occupied Palestine was based on obliviousness. And remaining ignorant. This has to change. It remains to be seen if Tel Aviv completes the end of its bargain and release the remaining 10,000 prisoners. None the less there was great joy at the release of the prisoners.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
