Two Palestinian mothers from Gaza believe their missing sons are the individuals depicted in a photograph showing a blindfolded man in Israeli custody, stripped to his underwear and restrained. Israel has acknowledged the image is genuine and stated the treatment is inconsistent with military values, but has not identified the man or his location.
The photograph, which surfaced on an Instagram post that has since been deleted, shows a man with his hands bound behind his back, a wooden rod attached to his body, and his face obscured. Hebrew text reading "good morning" was overlaid on the image. The Israeli military confirmed an inquiry is underway regarding the incident, promising accountability for those involved, but has withheld specific details about the detainee.
Rana Abu Nassar stated she recognized her son, Osama, immediately due to specific physical characteristics, including swelling on his foot and scars on his leg, consistent with what she observed in the image. Osama was arrested in March near Israel's border with Hamas militants, an incident that drew attention as he was detained with his infant son, who was later released with injuries his family attributed to Israeli forces. The military has refuted allegations of abuse against the child, attributing the marks to warning shots.
Similarly, Joudeh Al-Ghoul identified her son, Amin, in the photograph, citing his hair and chin. Amin was arrested in November 2023 while attempting to travel from southern Gaza to the north of the enclave. Ms. Al-Ghoul expressed her certainty, stating a mother's intuition could recognize her son.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society has submitted the names of both men to the military, seeking to arrange legal visits. A representative from the organization noted that while visits are possible, the coordination process is lengthy and challenging. Approximately 1,200 Palestinians from Gaza are held in Israel under the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law.
