American Freed, Palestinian Prisoners Compare Israeli Prisons to Guantanamo

Gaza, Palestine — Three more Israelis and 183 Palestinians were released during the fifth exchange in the first phase of the shaky Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Seven of the released Palestinians last Saturday were immediately transferred to the hospital for medical treatment and many shared accounts of torture, beatings, starvation, and medical neglect. Unicorn Riot heard the stories of several Palestinian detainees released at Gaza’s European Hospital.

“Israeli prisons are like Guantanamo, like Abu Ghraib, they are very difficult prisons.” – Shaker Agha, released Palestinian detainee

The release took place amid continued threats of forced expulsion in Gaza by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside the ongoing siege and ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank that has forcibly displaced over 40,000 Palestinians. On Monday, two days after the fifth exchange, Hamas halted further captive releases citing continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, including delaying the return of Palestinians, killing dozens of Gazans and delaying aid and entry of goods. Hamas said they’re committed to the terms of the ceasefire “as long as the occupation adheres to them.”

Feb. 1 – American-Israeli Freed During Fourth Prisoner Exchange

A week earlier, on Saturday, February 1, Unicorn Riot documented the moments that American-Israeli captive Keith Siegel, 65, was handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City. Siegel was taken captive and brought into Gaza on October 7, 2023, along with his wife, Aviva, who was released in an exchange in November 2023.

The handover was surrounded by several heavily armed and organized units of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, including appearances by al-Ghoul snipers. Paperwork was signed and exchanged between the fighters and the Red Cross on a decorated stage in front of a large banner that read “Nazi Zionism will not win.” See our photo gallery at the bottom of article.

Watching Siegel’s release from the port, Youssef Okasha told UR that he was “very happy” that the ceasefire agreement allowed Palestinians to go back home to northern Gaza and that the “Israeli prisoners will go back home.” He said is wants to live in peace, without wars.

Feb. 8 – Palestinian Detainees Released in Gaza as Part of Fifth Prisoner Exchange

On Saturday, February 8 in Deir Al-Balah, three Israeli captives were handed over to the Red Cross by fighters in the Shadow Unit of the Qassam Brigades. The handover was another choreographed and symbolic release with large crowds cheering. A video of the release was published featuring the Israeli captives coming from tunnels underneath the surface of Gaza.

Qassam's Shadow Unit hands over three Israeli captives in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, in front of martyr posters including Central Division commander Ayman Nofal and top operations chief Marwan Issa both from al-Bureij. It is the fifth exchange of Phase 1. [Qassam Brigades 8/2] pic.twitter.com/2HONF2PMss
— Jon Elmer (@jonelmer) February 8, 2025

After the Israeli captives reached Israeli soil, buses carrying 183 Palestinians from multiple prisons were brought to three drop-off points — Khan Younis, Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and occupied East Jerusalem.

Of the Palestinians released, 111 were abducted by Israeli forces in Gaza after October 7, 2023 and 72 were prisoners — 54 prisoners with long sentences and 18 with life sentences.

Outside the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis, the released Palestinians who had been abducted in Gaza and detained in Israel were greeted by their family members at a carefully controlled release point.

Speaking from inside the transport bus as he waited to get off, Abdullah Abu Semaan compared being released to coming “out of death and into life” and said Israeli prisons are like coffins. He said “God willing, no one will remain in Israeli prisons because the situation there is very difficult.”

“Being in prison was the worst time of my life,” said Mohammed Agha. He was held by Israel for nearly 15 months after being “arrested at a checkpoint north of Gaza City on November 20, 2023.”

“The best feeling” in life “was the moment we were released,” said Mohammed Agha, who was lucky enough to be greeted by his wife, children, and family.

“It was all torture, beatings and humiliation. We didn’t know anything about Gaza.”
Mohammed Agha

Being detained in the notorious Negev and Ofer prisons, among others, Shaker Agha said the Palestinians locked up endured “interrogation, beatings, medical neglect, starvation, and oppression.”

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society reports that in early February 2025, over 10,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails and prisons. The group reports 3,369 are held under administrative detention, a controversial process that give no legal rights or judicial process to the inmate. Numbers have doubled since Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza starting in October 2023. At least 365 children are being held and 16 women. More than 56 Palestinians have died in Israeli detention since October 2023.

During the first phase of the ceasefire, 33 hostages held in Gaza were planned to be exchanged for 1,904 Palestinians held captive in Israel, including 737 prisoners serving life sentences.

As of Saturday, February 8, 21 captives — including five from Thailand — have been released in exchange for 766 jailed Palestinians. Of the 251 captives taken into Gaza, 110 were exchanged in the November 2023 ceasefire deal, at least 34 have died and 73 are reported to still be in Gaza.

Photo Gallery from Feb. 1, 2025 – Gaza City Port, Gaza City, Palestine