Hawzah News Agency- In a statement released on Sunday, Hamas said dozens of Palestinians released from Israeli prisons under the recent ceasefire deal had shown signs of severe abuse and mistreatment.

It also sheds light on the systematic torture, severe beatings and brutal treatment the Palestinians faced moments before their release.

"The harrowing testimonies of released prisoners, confirming their exposure to abuse and beatings just days before their scheduled release and even up to the final moments before their freedom, along with the physical and psychological torture, medical neglect, starvation, thirst, and deprivation of medication that our prisoners endure in the occupation’s prisons, constitute a full-fledged war crime and a brutal violation of international laws concerning prisoners," the statement read.

As part of the agreement between Hamas and Israel, 183 Palestinians were freed from Israeli jails on Saturday. Many appeared frail and exhausted as they arrived at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza.

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) described the mistreatment suffered by detainees, saying that their bodies reflect "the level of crimes committed against them", particularly after 7 October 2023.

The organization detailed cases of "unprecedented torture, starvation, systematic medical crimes" and severe beatings that, in some cases, resulted in broken ribs. Several former detainees were also reportedly infected with scabies.

The latest statement by Hamas comes after media and international humanitarian organizations released a series of harrowing testimonies from detainees held in Israel’s prisons.

"Reports in the Hebrew media citing International Committee of the Red Cross officials confirming the inhumane treatment of released prisoners at the hands of occupation soldiers and the Zionist prison authorities necessitate intensified efforts from the international organization to monitor the conditions of Palestinian prisoners,” Hamas said.

The resistance group also appealed to organizations to report their findings to "the relevant international bodies, and work to ensure the respect of their rights under international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and their additional protocols."

Hamas said these crimes "reflect the rogue nature of this occupation, which disregards international laws and human values."

"These ongoing Zionist crimes against our people and our prisoners in occupation prisons only strengthen our determination to continue the path of resistance until the occupation is removed from our land and holy sites, and until the establishment of the Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital.”

In a recent report, the advocacy group PPS said the Israeli military carried out “systematic terrorism” against prisoners who were recently released under the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Mahmoud Samer Jabarin, a recently freed Palestinian, said Israeli jails are “graveyards for the living.”

Israel has also threatened the released prisoners and their families, warning them against holding public gatherings to celebrate their return.

Israel has released a list of more than 700 Palestinians who are to be released under the deal. More than 230 are serving life sentences and will be permanently sent to exile upon release.

Hamas has said Israel was forced to “open the doors of his cells to our heroic prisoners” after months of “unprecedented brutal aggression that targeted every inch of Gaza in its barbarity.”

Source: Presstv