Palestinian children released from Israeli custody show signs of torture, malnutrition

By lauraharris // 2025-07-28

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Ten Palestinian teenage boys released from Israeli custody on July 24 showed signs of severe physical abuse, exhaustion and malnutrition after nearly a month in detention. They were arrested while seeking food at an aid point in Rafah.
The boys, including Karam Hamdi Hussein, described continuous beatings, being fed rotten food while tied up, and daily humiliation in Israeli detention. One teen was too weak to speak upon release.
Some minors remain imprisoned in Israel's Sde Teiman facility, which has been widely condemned for allegations of torture, medical neglect and inhumane conditions.
At least 113 Palestinians, including 81 children, have died of starvation in Gaza since October 2023. Over 1.25 million people face catastrophic hunger, with 96 percent of the population experiencing severe food insecurity.
The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has faced international condemnation for turning aid distribution sites into "mass death traps," where over 900 people have been killed while seeking food. Rights groups accuse Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.

Ten Palestinian teenage boys released on Thursday, July 24, from Israeli military custody have shown clear signs of physical abuse and malnutrition. The teens, detained for nearly a month after being seized by Israeli forces at the al-Shakoush aid distribution point in northwest Rafah, were transferred by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. There, medical staff, journalists and the boy themselves reported visible bruises, signs of exhaustion and indications of mistreatment. A correspondent for Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, who saw the children upon their arrival at the hospital, said they were "severely weakened, visibly traumatized and bore marks of beatings." According to testimonies gathered by Anadolu, the boys were arrested while attempting to collect food and aid for their families. One of them, Karam Hamdi Hussein, described harrowing conditions inside Israeli custody for a month. (Related: Palestinian child dies of malnutrition as hunger crisis rages in Gaza.) "They beat us continuously. They gave us rotten food, and we had to eat it while our hands were tied. The al-Shakoush area was supposed to be safe – it turned out to be a trap," Hussein said. He also confirmed that other children remain imprisoned inside Israel's Sde Teiman military detention facility, a site that has drawn widespread condemnation over allegations of systemic abuse, including torture, humiliation and denial of medical care. "We spent an entire month under constant beatings and daily humiliation," Hussein added. Additionally, another teenager, identified only as Omar, was reportedly too weak to speak after his release. Anadolu's correspondent said Omar appeared severely fatigued and required immediate medical attention upon arrival at the hospital.

Systematic starvation: Over 1 million facing famine in Gaza as aid sites turn into "mass death traps"

These accounts from Palestinian prisoners reflect recent reports from different organizations. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 113 Palestinians, including 81 children, have died of starvation since the war began in October 2023. Over 28,000 cases of malnutrition have been officially registered, though aid agencies believe the true figure is significantly higher. Since Israel shut Gaza’s main border crossings on March 2, no significant shipments of food, water or medicine have entered through traditional humanitarian channels. Aid efforts since then have largely relied on a controversial initiative led by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) – a program under growing scrutiny for its limited reach and military oversight. Rights groups and United Nations officials have condemned the GHF operation for bypassing the UN's established aid systems and restricting distribution to militarized "safe zones." These sites, meant to serve as distribution points, have instead turned into "mass death traps." According to UN and eyewitness reports, more than 900 Palestinians have been killed and over 60,000 wounded while trying to access food at GHF aid points, where Israeli forces and U.S.-affiliated contractors have opened fire on crowds. Another 46 individuals remain missing. New data from the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor highlights the speed at which the crisis is accelerating. On July 20, one Palestinian died of hunger every 80 minutes, the group said, accusing Israel of enforcing a "systematic starvation policy" aimed at the civilian population. The World Food Program echoed the warning, reporting that one in three Gazans is now going multiple days without eating, while more than 96 percent of the enclave's population is suffering from severe food insecurity. The Gaza Government Media Office estimates that 1.25 million people are now experiencing catastrophic hunger – classified as IPC Phase 5, the highest level of food insecurity. Among them are more than 650,000 children under five, who face an "imminent and severe risk" of acute malnutrition. Additionally, Al-Shifa Hospital reports 17,000 children currently suffering from severe malnutrition, many with dangerously low body mass and organ deterioration. Watch Robert Inlakesh explaining the UN's decision to add Israel to the blacklist of countries harming children below.

This video is from the CreeperStatus channel on Brighteon.com.

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Systematic starvation: Over 1 million facing famine in Gaza as aid sites turn into "mass death traps"

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