Gaza – On October 15, 2025, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Al-Nasser Hospital in the Gaza Strip had received the first batch of 45 Palestinian bodies returned by Israel. The hospital stated that it expects to receive more than 450 additional bodies in the coming days.

According to hospital staff, the bodies belong to Palestinians who were detained by Israeli forces since October 7, 2023, and died while in custody. In its statement, the hospital revealed that:

“Some bodies show clear signs of torture, and several were found with their hands tied behind their backs.”

It remains unclear when and under what circumstances the detainees were killed.

At the same time, Palestinian doctors and recently released detainees have reported widespread physical and psychological abuse inside Israeli prisons.

Dr. Imed Al-Shami, a physician at the Palestinian Medical Complex (PMC) in Ramallah, told AP:

“Many of those released display injuries consistent with prolonged torture, extensive bruises, and multiple fractures indicating severe mistreatment during detention.”

Kamal Abu Shanab, a former prisoner who spent over 18 years behind bars, recounted his ordeal:

“I was beaten until my shoulder was torn, and for eight months I was denied even a single painkiller.”

The Israel Prison Service (IPS) issued a statement denying all allegations, insisting that Israel treats all detainees in accordance with human rights standards.

This development follows a recent prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas earlier this week, in which around 2,000 Palestinians were released. However, more than 9,100 Palestinians remain imprisoned under harsh conditions and severe restrictions on basic rights.