Watan – In Al-Shuyukh, Hebron, anticipation hung thick as the Ayyadah family awaited Basel Ali Ayyadah’s homecoming. An agonizing 11-year stretcher in Israeli custody was supposed to culminate in a joyous reunion. Yet, the Basel who returned was profoundly altered, his spirit seemingly eroded by the torment of extended solitary confinement.

A video that’s buzzing online shows a stark difference between Basel’s lively demeanor before his arrest and how he appears now. Filmed at an Israeli checkpoint, it showed a raw glimpse into the devastating cognitive effects of isolation, compounded by alleged torture.

Basel recounted his ordeal, particularly his six years in solitary confinement, a tragedy that the Palestinian Prisoners Club echoes. They validate his account of isolation and shed light on the harsh interrogation methods used.

40 prisoners in solitary confinement
The club also raises concerns about the increasing reliance on solitary confinement in Israeli prisons. Currently, around 40 Palestinian prisoners face this extreme isolation, a figure not seen in over a decade. The club stresses the profound psychological effects of such measures, which they see as a strategy to break prisoners’ will.

Moreover, data from the Palestinian Authority for Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs paints a somber picture. Since the Al-Aqsa Intifada began in September 2000, Israeli forces have arrested over 135,000 Palestinians, underscoring the vast reach of these detentions.

You might like:

Torture in Bahraini Prisons: A Terrifying Testimony from a Political Prisoner