‘Lives gone’: Palestinians mark Prisoner’s Day

An estimated 4,500 Palestinians are languishing in jail, many for simply challenging Israel’s occupation.

Ramallah, Occupied West Bank – Mansour al-Shahatit was unable to recognise his mother and brothers following his release from an Israeli prison after 17 years. He was in a deplorable state after being freed on April 8, suffering from memory loss as a result of torture and solitary confinement for many years in Israeli jails and the severe conditions. His family from Yatta, near Hebron, was in tears as he was released and they saw his physical and mental condition.