Photo of abused Palestinian detainee causes anguish for two Gaza mothers | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Mothers Identified from Disturbing Image of Detainee
A disturbing image of a Palestinian detainee has intensified the suffering of two mothers in Gaza, each convinced the man depicted is her missing son. The photograph, which surfaced online, shows a blindfolded individual, restrained and partially clothed.
The Israeli military has confirmed the authenticity of the photograph but has not disclosed the identity of the detainee or his location. This uncertainty has left both mothers, Rana Abu Nassar and Joudeh Al-Ghou, in deep anguish as they each claim the individual is their son.
Originally posted on Instagram, the image included the words “good morning” in Hebrew, but the account has since been deleted. The image itself shows the man with his hands bound behind his back and his foot tied to a cot, with a wooden rod binding him to the cot from his foot to his neck, obscuring much of his face.
In response to the photograph, the Israeli military stated that an investigation is underway. A spokesperson indicated that those responsible will be held accountable according to the findings and asserted that the treatment depicted does not reflect the military’s values.
Rana Abu Nassar believes the individual in the image is her son, Osama, who has been missing since his arrest in March. “I know the details of his body. He has swelling in his foot and scars on his leg—the same swelling I saw in the picture,” she said. Osama was arrested on March 19 alongside his one-year-old son, who was released shortly afterward with what the family described as cigarette burn marks.
Israel’s military has denied any allegations of abuse related to Osama’s son, asserting that the marks on the boy were caused by warning shots fired to deter Osama from approaching the “Yellow Line,” a boundary where Israeli forces frequently open fire.
Joudeh Al-Ghou, whose son Ameen was arrested in November 2023, also identified the man in the photograph. “It’s him—his hair and chin. He is my son. A mother’s heart can recognize her son,” she stated, emotional as she recalled the moment she first saw the image.
These mothers’ experiences underscore a wider crisis faced by Palestinians in Israeli custody. Approximately 1,200 Palestinians from Gaza are currently held in Israel under the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law, which permits indefinite detention of individuals suspected of involvement in hostile actions.
Amani Sarahneh of the Palestinian Prisoners Society noted that her organization has submitted the names of both detainees to the military in an effort to secure legal visits. “Visits do take place, but with great difficulty. The coordination process takes a very long time,” she said.