Israeli forces carve Star of David on freed Palestinian prisoner’s head

Palestinian prisoners recently released by Israeli authorities revealed harrowing accounts of extreme torture endured during their detention. Many of them are suffering from starvation, chronic illnesses, and severe psychological trauma.

One such case is Musab Qatawi, from the city of Qalqilya, who was released on Thursday after spending three years in an Israeli prison.

During his detention, Qatawi’s head was forcibly shaved, and the Star of David was carved into his scalp, a disturbing act that sparked outrage after images of his injuries circulated online.

The photo of Qatawi’s scarred head was widely shared on social media, underscoring the inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.

According to Qatawi, the occupation forces routinely abused detainees, with some suffering abuse so severe it risked their lives due to both physical and psychological trauma.

WATCH: Freed Palestinian prisoner mourns his wife’s death in heartbreaking moment

Qatawi recounted that he and fellow detainee Ahmad Manasra, a Palestinian youth imprisoned by Israel as a child and recently released after nearly a decade, were subjected to degrading treatment.

“Our heads, mine and that of freed detainee Ahmad Manasra, were shoved into garbage bins, our heads were completely shaved, and we were abused before being freed,” he said.

In a tragic incident, Waleed Ahmed, a Palestinian teenager, recently died in an Israeli prison due to starvation. The death was confirmed by Israeli health officials.

Read: Palestinian prisoner discovers his wife, daughter’s death upon release

Human rights organisations have long raised alarms over systemic abuse within Israeli prisons, particularly following the events of October 7, 2023.

Thousands of Palestinians have been arrested since, with the Palestinian Authority reporting that Israel is currently holding the bodies of 72 prisoners who died in custody, 61 of them since the beginning of Israel's recent military offensive.

Former prisoners told the media that conditions have significantly worsened since October, citing increased beatings, severe overcrowding, inadequate medical care, poor sanitation, and outbreaks of diseases like scabies.