Palestinians released by Israel show signs of torture and starvation

Some freed prisoners were transported to Egypt or the West Bank for medical treatment after their release.

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Hundreds of Palestinians who were released from Israeli captivity as part of the ceasefire agreement have returned to Gaza showing signs of emaciation and abuse.

The release, which occurred on Thursday, followed Israel's announcement that Hamas had handed over the bodies of four captives to the Red Cross.

The release of over 600 Palestinians marked the final phase of the first stage of the ceasefire deal.

Several of the released detainees were transported to the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, due to severe injuries.

Others were sent to Egypt and the occupied West Bank for further treatment. Alaa al-Bayari, one of the freed Palestinians, described the brutal conditions he endured in Israeli prison. He told Al Jazeera, "We were kept naked, water was thrown on us, and then they used electricity" to torture prisoners. He added that it felt like being "dug out of our own graves" after being held in such conditions.

Many family members of the released prisoners were visibly emotional, with some breaking down in tears upon seeing their loved ones.

Reports from Gaza described how some released prisoners had limbs amputated due to torture, while others suffered severe injuries.

"It is very hard to explain; it is very hard to talk about what we have been through," Al-Bayari said.

Footage shared by Quds News Network showed emotional reunions, including one in the West Bank city of Jenin, where Louay Saabneh met his son Jabal for the first time in years. The released prisoners confirmed they had witnessed some of the worst methods of torture at the hands of Israeli occupation forces.

In a separate development, Hamas handed over the bodies of four captives to Israel, identified as Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, Itzik Elgarat, and Shlomo Mantzur. Israel's President Isaac Herzog confirmed the identities of the deceased.

Hamas reiterated its "full commitment" to the ceasefire agreement and its readiness to begin negotiations for the second phase of the deal.

The group also criticised Israeli authorities for attempting to obstruct the release of prisoners, emphasising that these efforts had failed. It called on the international community to address the abuse suffered by Palestinian prisoners while focusing attention on Israeli captives.