Gaza Mothers Fears Grow as Three Sons Remain Imprisoned Without Charges

Palestinian Prisoners’ Day Marked Amid Uncertainty Over New Law

In Gaza City, a Palestinian mother is waiting anxiously for news about her three sons, who have been detained by Israel since December 2023. Inaam al-Dahdouh, 62, is one of the many Palestinians observing Palestinian Prisoners’ Day on April 17, which marks an increase in detainees and worsening conditions in Israeli prisons.

According to prisoners’ advocacy groups, more than 9,600 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons as of early April 2026, compared with about 5,250 before the war. This represents a significant increase of nearly 83 percent. The number includes 350 children and over 3,530 administrative detainees held without charge.

Since the war began in October 2023, more than 100 prisoners have died in custody amid reports of deteriorating detention conditions. A new law passed by the Israeli parliament on March 30 allows for the implementation of the death penalty against those convicted of killing Israelis. However, the law’s application is unclear, with some discussing a separate tribunal for Palestinians from Gaza.

Inaam al-Dahdouh’s sons, Mahmoud, Alaa, and Diaa, were detained after an Israeli attack on al-Shifa Hospital in December 2023. The family had been under siege for five days before the Israeli forces stormed their house amid heavy gunfire. Inaam has received limited information about her sons since their arrest and relies on fragments of news carried by released prisoners to stay informed.

The Israeli parliament’s decision has sparked international condemnation, with some critics labeling it as another example of Israeli apartheid against Palestinians. The situation remains uncertain, leaving families like Inaam’s waiting anxiously for news about their loved ones.

Source: Al Jazeera