Palestinian prisoners describe Israeli prisons as a 'disaster'

JERUSALEM - A 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner released as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has described conditions in Israeli prisons as 'disastrous'.

Laith Othman said that the prisoners were left to starve, and they were not allowed to leave their cells.

"The conditions in Israeli prisons are very difficult; I cannot express how difficult it is.

"We weren't allowed out of our cells; there was no good food, no food, nothing; we were starving.

"There is nothing good in prison; it's a disaster," he said.

As part of a deal between Israel and Hamas, 39 women and children held in Israeli prisons were released, coinciding with the first day of the war's initial ceasefire.

The reciprocal release by Hamas included Israeli women and children as well as Thai farm workers. - Awani