Search
Close this search box.

Health Condition of Freed Palestinian Prisoners Sparks Accusations Against Israel by Hamas


Ramallah: Palestinian resistance group Hamas stated Monday that the health condition of freed Palestinian prisoners reflected Israel’s ‘barbarity and fascism.’ The Israeli authorities released 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, from Ofer Prison, west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, under the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement. This event followed hours after Hamas released three female captives under the same deal. Reports from Israeli media indicated that the three Israeli women are in good health.



According to Anadolu Agency, Hamas issued a statement highlighting the stark contrast in the treatment of the prisoners. “Images of the three female captives showed that they were in full physical and psychological health, in contrast to our prisoners whose appearance showed signs of neglect and exhaustion,” the statement read. Hamas emphasized that this difference illustrates what they described as the ‘vast difference between the values and ethics of the resistance and the barbarity and fascism of the occupation.’



Footage from the events showed the freed Israeli captives in clean and tidy clothing, carrying ‘gift bags,’ while signs of abuse and torture were evident on the faces of the Palestinian women released from Israeli prisons. Hamas expressed congratulations to its people, the nation, and freedom advocates worldwide on the liberation of the first group of prisoners from Israeli occupation prisons. The statement underscored the popular support for the resistance, evidenced by the scenes of people raising victory signs while welcoming the freed prisoners.



The reception of freed prisoners was marked by a massive turnout, despite the Israeli army firing tear gas to disperse families gathered near Ofer Prison. This outpouring of support was described by Hamas as a declaration of defiance and a thirst for freedom and the liberation of land and holy sites. The ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, which took effect on Sunday, aims to suspend Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, with hopes for a permanent truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.



The conflict has resulted in nearly 47,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 injuries, creating a dire humanitarian crisis. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.