Israeli Occupation Terrorizes Released Palestinian Political Prisoners
15/2/2025
Palestinian Prisoners’ Society 

Ramallah, Palestine – Occupation authorities forced Palestinian political prisoners to wear sweatshirts bearing threatening messages in Arabic along with the Star of David, in an attempt to terrorize and humiliate them in this prisoner-exchange. In the last prisoner releases, occupation authorities also placed bracelets on the detainees also bearing harmful and threatening messages including "I will pursue my enemies and overtake them." 

These threats and petty actions are an attempt not only to rob Palestinians from the joy of freedom, but also to undermine the status of political prisoners in the collective consciousness of the Palestinian people. They are an extension of the occupation’s state-terrorism against current and released political prisoners and their families.
 
Many of the prisoners who were released as part of this prisoner-exchange deal over the past few weeks were immediately transferred to hospital in extremely poor condition, including several who were released today. Many also testified that they were severely beaten prior to their release. The testimonies of those being released also reflect an extremely dangerous level of abuse by occupation authorities inside prisons and military camps, primarily torture, enforced starvation and life-threatening medical negligence. Among those released today were prisoners who had severely suffered from the deprivation of their right to adequate medical care, notably Mansour Mowqade and prisoner Iyad Hreibat. 

Occupation forces also raided several Palestinian homes yesterday evening and today in a bid to crackdown on any kind of celebrations over the releases. They have done so prior and after every prisoner release so far. These raids include violent destruction of property and belongings, terrorizing and humiliating the family, and preventing Palestinians from their right to celebrate the release of their loved ones.

Thousands of Palestinians, particularly from Gaza, are being subject to the severe crime of enforced disappearance, most of them since the start of the genocide. Until this moment, their families do not know whether they are alive or not. The occupation is carrying out crimes at an unprecedented rate in terms of frequency and intensity, including: murder, torture, sexual assault, severe beatings, and intentional starvation of the prisoners. Dozens of Palestinian prisoners have been killed by occupation prison guards since the genocide in Gaza.