Eight Gaza Detainees Freed from Israeli Sde Teiman Camp in Critical Condition
Former prisoners released from Israel’s Sde Teiman detention site arrive at Gaza hospitals showing signs of torture, starvation, and medical neglect
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Eight Palestinian detainees from the Gaza Strip were admitted on Monday to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after being released from Israeli detention facilities in critical health conditions, according to medical and field sources.
The detainees were transferred to the hospital in Deir al-Balah after their release from Sde Teiman detention camp, with transport coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Medical staff said the men were immediately hospitalized for examinations after showing signs of extreme exhaustion, severe malnutrition, and physical and psychological abuse.
Testimonies of Released Detainees Describe Systematic Torture
Hospital officials identified the released detainees as residents of Tel al-Zaatar, Sheikh Zayed, Khan Younis, and Beit Lahia, ranging in age from 31 to 49. Several had lost significant body weight and exhibited injuries consistent with prolonged abuse.
Doctors said the detainees’ conditions reflected extended exposure to harsh detention environments and a lack of adequate medical care.
Former detainees and survivors described detention conditions at Sde Teiman as violating all humanitarian standards. Testimonies cited systematic physical abuse, including severe beatings, the use of attack dogs, sexualized violence, and assaults targeting sensitive parts of the body.
Detainees said they were forced to remain seated in painful stress positions for up to 17 hours per day, forbidden from sleeping, speaking, or lifting their heads, and subjected to constant restraints that restricted movement.
Starvation, Disease, and Medical Neglect
Released prisoners reported deliberate starvation, receiving minimal quantities of poor-quality food, leading to drastic weight loss. They also described widespread skin diseases, including scabies, caused by a lack of hygiene, scarce water supplies, and restrictions on changing clothes—sometimes limited to once per month.
Rights groups have documented cases in which detainees suffered amputations due to prolonged use of tight metal restraints, as well as deaths resulting from torture or denial of medical treatment.
Sde Teiman Compared to ‘Israeli Guantanamo’
International and Palestinian human rights organizations have repeatedly described Sde Teiman as “Israel’s Guantanamo,” citing consistent reports of torture, enforced disappearances, and systematic medical neglect.
On February 19, 2026, the Committee to Protect Journalists published a report titled “We Returned from Hell,” documenting testimonies from 59 Palestinian journalists who said they were subjected to torture, sexual abuse, and threats while held at the camp.
The Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ Affairs has described Sde Teiman as a “cemetery for the living,” accusing Israeli authorities of using the so-called “unlawful combatant” law to hold detainees incommunicado and block regular Red Cross visits.
Calls for International Prosecution
Human rights groups, including the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor and the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, have called on the International Criminal Court to include Sde Teiman in its ongoing investigations into Israeli crimes committed in Gaza.
The scale and consistency of abuse documented at the detention site constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity requiring urgent international accountability. (PW)