Elham Asaad Buaras
Israeli authorities are under fire after forcing Palestinian prisoners released as part of the February 15 Gaza ceasefire agreement to wear shirts emblazoned with the Star of David and the slogan “We Will Not Forget or Forgive” written in Arabic. The act has sparked outrage and accusations of humiliation.
As part of the prisoner exchange, Israel freed 369 Palestinians in return for three Israeli captives held in Gaza. However, disturbing images soon emerged showing the freed Palestinians kneeling with their heads lowered, wearing the marked shirts—an act widely perceived as deliberate degradation.
The Star of David, a symbol of Jewish identity, was adopted by the Zionist movement before the occupation of Palestine and is prominently displayed on Israel’s national flag. The addition of a menacing slogan on the shirts has been widely condemned.
Reports indicate that this is not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, released Palestinian prisoners have claimed they were also forced to wear wristbands bearing threats of pursuit and re-arrest.
A source quoted by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority revealed that these measures were implemented under the directive of Israeli Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, further fuelling concerns over the treatment of detainees.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which played a role in facilitating the prisoner exchange, has expressed concern over the treatment of those released. In a statement on Saturday, the ICRC emphasized the need for more dignified transfer processes: “The ICRC continues to raise its concerns about the way hostage and detainee releases are carried out. Despite repeatedly calling for all transfers to be conducted in a dignified and private manner, more must be done by all sides, including mediators, to improve future exchanges.”
The Palestinian Prisoners Club strongly condemned the use of threatening symbols and phrases, accusing Israeli authorities of exploiting every means available to “torture and humiliate” Palestinian detainees. The Times of Israel also reported on the criticism, highlighting the growing backlash against Israel’s handling of prisoner releases.
Renowned journalist Mehdi Hasan weighed in on the controversy, posting on X: “When people ask how is Israel inciting antisemitism around the world, this is how. The glorious Star of David, a symbol of one of the great Abrahamic faiths, being used by a rogue state as cover for its torture and abuse of Palestinian prisoners, detainees, and hostages.”
In an act of protest, Palestinians burned the garments Israel’s Prison Service forced Palestinian detainees to wear before their release in the sixth phase of the Israel-Hamas prisoner exchange.
Footage shot in Gaza by Al Jazeera showed a few Palestinians setting fire to the shirts upon their arrival at the European Gaza Hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis. As tensions continue to mount, international observers and human rights organizations are calling for further scrutiny into Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners, urging adherence to humanitarian standards in future exchanges.
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