A Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza, believed his family had been killed during the war, was reunited with them after his release from Israeli detention on Monday. His freedom came as part of a U.S.-mediated ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, which paused two years of fighting.
At his home in Khan Younis, his wife, Hanaa Bahlul, ran to embrace him, and their emotional reunion was filled with tears and joy. “I heard my wife’s and children’s voices. I couldn’t believe they were alive,” said Abu Sido, recalling the moment he discovered the truth.
He was detained at Gaza’s Shifa hospital in March 2024, among 1,700 Palestinians arrested by Israeli forces. His release came alongside 250 other prisoners exchanged for 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas since October 2023.
According to Addameer, a Palestinian human rights group, Abu Sido was held under Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law, which allows detention without trial. Rights groups say nearly 2,700 Gazans remain imprisoned under this law.
Abu Sido described facing severe mistreatment during detention, claiming he was beaten, handcuffed, and blindfolded for long periods. His wife said he was arrested only for working as a journalist.
The Israeli Prison Service denied allegations of abuse, saying all inmates are treated according to the law. Meanwhile, investigations continue into claims of mistreatment of detainees during the Gaza conflict.
The reunion of Abu Sido with his family serves as a rare moment of relief amid the ongoing suffering faced by Palestinians affected by the prolonged conflict.
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