In a harrowing revelation, released Palestinian prisoners have come forward to detail the systemic torture and abuse they endured in Israeli jails, painting a chilling picture of life behind bars. Muhammad Khalif, who spent 17 months imprisoned without charge, displayed his scars and health issues, pleading for the world to remember those still suffering. “We are dying inside,” he lamented, revealing the physical and psychological scars left by his incarceration, which included diabetes and severe neglect.

The plight of minors is equally distressing. Mahmud Kab, who turned 16 in jail, was sentenced to eight months for allegedly throwing rocks. He described brutal treatment from Israeli forces, recounting how he and other detainees were subjected to pepper spray, physical beatings, and left exposed to the elements. “They would tie our hands with tight plastic cables and beat us with rods,” he recounted, emphasizing the inhumane conditions that led him to lose a staggering 33 kg during his imprisonment.

The backdrop of these testimonies is a surge in arrests following the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with rights groups reporting widespread violations, including torture, humiliation, and forced disappearances. Families live in constant fear, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones, dreading each report of deaths in custody. As Muhammad Khalif reassured one father about his son’s safety, the grim reality remains that for many, the trauma of incarceration lingers long after release.

With calls for accountability growing louder, the international community is urged to confront these allegations and advocate for the rights of those still trapped within the walls of Israeli prisons. The stories of Khalif and Kab are urgent reminders of the human cost of conflict, demanding immediate attention and action.