Gazan men questioned by IDF over Hamas ties claim they were abused

A day after Israel confirmed it was rounding up suspected Hamas members in Gaza for interrogation, some released Palestinian men tell The Associated Press they were treated badly, providing the first alleged accounts of the conditions under which they were detained.

Osama Oula says Israeli troops pulled men out of a building in the Shejaiya area of Gaza City, ordering them to the street in their underwear. Oula claims Israeli forces bound him and others with zip ties, beat them for several days and gave them little water to drink.

Ahmad Nimr Salman shows his hands, marked and swollen, apparently from the zip ties, and alleges that older men with diabetes or high blood pressure were ignored when they asked soldiers to remove their ties.

He says the troops asked, ”‘Are you with Hamas?’ We say ‘no,’ then they would slap us or kick us.” He says his 17-year-old son Amjad is still held by the troops.

The group was released after five days and told to walk south. Ten freed detainees arrived at a hospital in Deir al-Balah yesterday after flagging down an ambulance.

The Israeli military has no immediate comment when asked about the alleged abuse. The IDF has previously said that it questions those who are arrested.