250 Palestinian prisoners, 1,808 detainees released by Israel: Red Cross

A total of 450 bodies were to be returned to Gaza from Israel, the hospital said. The hospital said some of the bodies showed signs of torture and had their hands bound. It was not immediately clear when or how they died.

UN report on mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners

While Israel has rejected reports of torture, Palestinians who were freed in past exchanges have reported frequent beatings, insufficient food, and deprivation of medical care in Israeli prisons.

A 2024 UN report said that since October 7, 2023, thousands of Palestinians have been held arbitrarily and incommunicado by Israel, often shackled, blindfolded, deprived of food, water, sleep and medical care and subjected to torture or degrading treatment.

Israel maintains that it follows international and domestic legal standards for the treatment of prisoners and that any violations by prison personnel are investigated.

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is in charge of prisons, has repeatedly boasted of making prison conditions for Palestinians as harsh as possible while meeting the letter of the law.

Released Palestinians suffer mental, physical health issues

Some of the Palestinian prisoners and detainees who were released on Monday are suffering from a range of health problems they developed during years in Israeli detention, doctors and freed prisoners in the occupied West Bank told The Associated Press.

“I was beaten on the shoulder, causing it to tear. For eight months, I wasn’t given even a pill for the pain,” said Kamal Abu Shanab, 51, who was released after more than 18 years behind bars. A military court in 2007 convicted him of “military training, voluntary manslaughter and membership in an unrecognised organisation,” according to Israel’s list of exchanged prisoners.

The Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah received 14 men released on Monday as part of the exchange and discharged all but two. Doctors examining the men said their conditions suggested they had been beaten.

“It indicates that these patients were subjected to severe beatings, reflecting the extent of the violence they endured,” said Imed al-Shami, a resident doctor at the hospital’s emergency room.

What Israel said

The Israel Prison Service said it was unaware of such claims. “All inmates are held according to legal procedures, and their rights, including access to medical care and adequate living condition,s are upheld,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.

Israel says it adheres to its prison standards under law and investigates any reports of violations. But such allegations are consistent with findings previously documented by media organisations and human rights groups.