After over nine months in Israeli detention, Mahmoud Abu Foul returned to Gaza to a crowd of well-wishers but couldn’t see them due to blindness caused by alleged mistreatment in prison. The 28-year-old Palestinian, who had lost his left leg in a 2015 airstrike, recounted enduring beatings and torture at an Israeli military prison, resulting in his loss of vision. Abu Foul, speaking from a tent in Nuseirat refugee camp where he now resides, expressed his desire to regain even partial eyesight.

Detained by the Israel Defence Forces in December 2024 at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Abu Foul was among the 1,700 Palestinian detainees released as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Hundreds of detainees were also freed in the West Bank, with some individuals deported to Egypt. Despite the joy of returning home, Abu Foul lamented his inability to witness the surroundings, expressing that smelling the air of his country was bittersweet without sight.

Upon his release, Abu Foul’s mother found him at a hospital and was shocked to discover his blindness. She described him as a vibrant individual in a pre-war photo, now struggling with the loss of vision and physical pain. Abu Foul detailed severe mistreatment in detention, including repeated beatings and forced humiliation, resulting in back pain and eventual loss of eyesight.

Allegations of systemic abuse in Israeli prisons have been previously reported, with organizations documenting instances of torture and ill-treatment. Concerns have been raised by human rights groups and the United Nations regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees, urging Israeli authorities to end the reported abuses. Abu Foul’s hope now lies in seeking medical treatment abroad to potentially restore his vision.