Ramallah: The Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) announced on Wednesday that the grave health condition of former detainee and journalist Mujahid Bani Mufleh, who was released from Israeli administrative detention six months ago, exemplifies the dire state of Israel's prison system. The PPS described the conditions as a form of "slow and direct killing" targeting Palestinian prisoners.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the PPS issued a statement emphasizing that Bani Mufleh's situation, while individual, represents a larger issue affecting thousands who have allegedly suffered systematic abuse in Israeli prisons, including torture. The statement highlighted that various specialized institutions have documented numerous cases of released prisoners leaving detention with critical health and psychological conditions. Despite this, many cases remain undisclosed due to the fear and trauma experienced by both the released prisoners and their families, who fear the possibility of re-arrest. The statement also noted that several released prisoners have died shortly after their release due to the violations they faced during their detention.
Bani Mufleh was placed under administrative detention by Israeli authorities in June 2025 and was released in January 2026. Merely two days post-release, he suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and was hospitalized in critical condition. He underwent multiple surgeries due to serious health complications and is currently undergoing a long and complex treatment process.
In a heartfelt testimony following his 14-month ordeal, Bani Mufleh recounted the suffering he endured in detention. He spoke of learning the true meaning of hunger when even a piece of bread seemed unattainable, and the humiliation experienced when basic daily life aspects were controlled by the jailer. He also highlighted the pain of physical incapacity and the cruelty of night hours filled with suffering, worry, and fear of the unknown. The treatment phase further revealed to him the meaning of helplessness, where simple daily movements became significant achievements.
Bani Mufleh also shared how imprisonment transformed his appreciation for life's basic necessities, such as adequate food, clean water, safe sleep, freedom of movement, and living with dignity.
In a related context, the PPS stated that the targeting of Palestinian journalists has significantly escalated following the war. This escalation has been marked by assassinations, which have claimed the lives of hundreds of journalists in the Gaza Strip, as well as campaigns of arrest and persecution. Documentation and monitoring reveal that the number of journalist arrests has exceeded 245 since the war's onset.