Former Palestinian detainees at mercy of Israel amid perpetual detention

Former Palestinian detainees in the occupied West Bank describe repeated arrests, interrogations and threats by Israeli forces after their release, leaving them unable to live freely. Their accounts suggest that detention continues to shape daily life through intimidation, restrictions and fear for their families.

Ahmed Abed, released in a January 2025 prisoner exchange after serving 22 years of a life sentence, says he has since been arrested six times and summoned for questioning five times. Other former detainees report frequent raids and further custody; one man says he spent 17 years in detention after his release in 2000, including a period of administrative detention from November 2023 to February 2025. Repeated arrests have also affected employment, family life and ordinary activities such as praying or playing football.