Twenty-four Palestinian workers detained by Israeli forces returned to the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing on Wednesday, following their release under the terms of a ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports.
About 9,500 Palestinian prisoners, including 92 women and 370 children, are currently held in Israeli prisons under harsh conditions, with dozens reported to have died as a result of starvation, torture and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights organizations.
In 2002, Israel’s Knesset passed the “Unlawful Combatant Law,” which allows Palestinians to be held for indefinite periods without indictment or sufficient evidence being presented to a court, according to Al Mezan Center for Human Rights.
Since the start of Israel’s genocide in Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023, around 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 173,000 injured, while nearly 90% of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed.
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