Gaza, 16 April 2024 — S.D., aged 52, and father of six children, resides near Al-Awda Towers in Beit Hanoun, North Gaza District. He has been battling a brain tumor since his diagnosis in 2018, receiving treatment in various hospitals within the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT). At the onset of the war, he was undergoing treatment at Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem, accompanied by his wife. On 9 November, he was arrested by the Israeli police and army while he was staying in Al-Lydd with his wife. He told Al Mezan: 

“When the war broke out, I was receiving treatment at the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem. My wife accompanied me. I underwent chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy. On 5 October 5, 2023, I underwent tests in the hospital and stayed for two days before leaving with my wife on 7 October 2023. Although I hadn't completed my treatment yet, due to concerns for our safety and potential risks such as arrest or settler violence, we decided to move and to rent an apartment in the city of Al-Lydd. 

We isolated ourselves there and avoided interacting with others. However, a neighbor kindly helped us with basic necessities, bringing us food, water, and the necessary medication for my treatment.

We remained in this situation for a while. At approximately 02:30 a.m. on Thursday, 9 November 9, 2023, the Israeli army and police raided the apartment. Upon entering, they tied my wrists, blindfolded and arrested me. I was then taken to a detention center in Jerusalem, which consisted of a large container with two cells filled with detainees. I had no information about what had happened to my wife.

On the third day of my detention, due to my deteriorating health condition, I was transferred to a hospital near the prison, where I received treatment. I was then taken back to the detention center and held there for a further six days, blindfolded and with my wrists tied. I slept on a thin mattress, about 3 cm thick, and was forced to use a dirty portable plastic toilet. I endured extremely harsh and difficult conditions, and was very frightened and anxious about what had happened to my wife.

On November 14, 2023, I was interrogated by an army officer whilst tied to a metal chair inside the interrogation room. The officer asked me about my sons' occupations as well as those of some of my relatives, and also whether there was anyone associated with Hamas in my neighborhood. I refused to answer any of the questions and stated that I had no knowledge of my sons' or relatives' activities.

On the morning of the seventh day, 16 November 2023, I was released. They took me by bus along with a group of other detainees and dropped us off at the Karem Abu Salem crossing, where we were met by UNRWA employees.

After I managed to contact my wife and inform her about my return to the Gaza Strip, she headed to the Palestinian National Security Headquarters in Ramallah to coordinate her own return to Gaza. She registered with the National Security Office and received a response 48 hours after submitting the request. She was taken by bus to [Israel] alongside several other Palestinian women, most of whom had been receiving treatment in the OPT. They were then transported by bus to the Karem Abu Salem crossing, and from there, they traveled to the Rafah Governorate in the southern Gaza Strip.

After my release, I set off on foot with a group of other released detainees. I headed to the western part of Rafah, in the Tal Al-Sultan area. I visited several UNRWA schools in search of shelter but couldn't find enough space. I then contacted some relatives, who told me that they were staying at Fathi al-Sheqaqi school near the Al-Tayyara crossroad in the Tal al-Sultan area. I decided to join them, and I set up a makeshift tent inside the school using five wooden planks and nylon roofing to protect myself from the cold and rain.

I began gathering and securing necessary belongings and essential items such as bedding, blankets, food and flour. I am now living inside this tent with my wife, enduring difficult and harsh living conditions due to the overcrowding within the school premises. There are only eight bathrooms for all the displaced people living within the school, which I estimate to be in the thousands, so I often wait long periods to use the facilities, and they are frequently dirty and unsanitary due to heavy usage.

I am currently receiving essential medication that my wife managed to obtain from hospitals in the West Bank. However, these will only last for about a month, and I am concerned that my health condition may deteriorate due to the lack of care and necessary follow-up, especially since I am unable to undergo any necessary tests, scans, or medical monitoring.”