Nasser Abu Srour, a renowned Palestinian author who spent over 32 years in Israeli prisons, has described the shocking rise in torture and brutal treatment of long-term prisoners during the recent Gaza war. The 56-year-old writer's account paints a disturbing picture of increased violence and disregard for human dignity within Israel's correctional facilities.
In an interview from his temporary home in Egypt, Abu Srour recounted the drastic change he witnessed after October 2023, when the Gaza conflict escalated. The prison guards' demeanor shifted dramatically, and they began treating prisoners like "warriors" rather than inmates, leading to a significant increase in beatings, starvation, and exposure.
The Israeli Prison Service has repeatedly denied allegations of torture, but Abu Srour's testimony is backed by a UN commission that documented 75 deaths of Palestinians in Israeli custody between October 2023 and August 2025. His own experience includes being subjected to physical abuse, including beatings and trampling with their feet, as well as the deprivation of basic necessities like food and warmth.
Abu Srour's story is all too familiar for those who have spent years behind bars in Israeli prisons. The conditions in which he was held are a stark contrast to the luxurious accommodations he received upon his release, including a five-star hotel in Cairo. This juxtaposition has left him grappling with the complexities of freedom and identity.
The freed prisoners, including Abu Srour, were met with surprise and discomfort as they navigated their new surroundings, struggling to adapt to even basic amenities like food service and showers. The stark contrast between their prison life and newfound comforts is a poignant reminder of the harsh realities they faced during their captivity.
As Abu Srour weighs his options for relocation, he remains committed to finding a home where he can continue writing without fear of persecution or censorship. His message is one of resilience and hope, as he seeks to rebuild his life in a country that will allow him to reclaim his voice and share his story with the world.
In an interview from his temporary home in Egypt, Abu Srour recounted the drastic change he witnessed after October 2023, when the Gaza conflict escalated. The prison guards' demeanor shifted dramatically, and they began treating prisoners like "warriors" rather than inmates, leading to a significant increase in beatings, starvation, and exposure.
The Israeli Prison Service has repeatedly denied allegations of torture, but Abu Srour's testimony is backed by a UN commission that documented 75 deaths of Palestinians in Israeli custody between October 2023 and August 2025. His own experience includes being subjected to physical abuse, including beatings and trampling with their feet, as well as the deprivation of basic necessities like food and warmth.
Abu Srour's story is all too familiar for those who have spent years behind bars in Israeli prisons. The conditions in which he was held are a stark contrast to the luxurious accommodations he received upon his release, including a five-star hotel in Cairo. This juxtaposition has left him grappling with the complexities of freedom and identity.
The freed prisoners, including Abu Srour, were met with surprise and discomfort as they navigated their new surroundings, struggling to adapt to even basic amenities like food service and showers. The stark contrast between their prison life and newfound comforts is a poignant reminder of the harsh realities they faced during their captivity.
As Abu Srour weighs his options for relocation, he remains committed to finding a home where he can continue writing without fear of persecution or censorship. His message is one of resilience and hope, as he seeks to rebuild his life in a country that will allow him to reclaim his voice and share his story with the world.
. I'm thinking about Nasser Abu Srour and all those other Palestinians who are going through this brutal treatment in Israeli prisons 
. It's crazy how the prison guards changed their whole vibe after the Gaza conflict escalated - from being all harsh and controlling to treating prisoners like they're some kind of warriors 
? Like, what even is that? 
. It's like, we need to be holding our leaders accountable for this stuff. Abu Srour's story is so heartbreaking - the physical abuse, the starvation, the freezing temperatures... it's all just, ugh 
.
. It's like, they go from zero to hero in a split second, but still have to deal with the trauma and PTSD 
. We need to be supporting them more, you know? Giving them a safe space to rebuild their lives and share their stories without fear of persecution or censorship 
.
this is just heartbreaking! I mean, 32 years in prison? That's like, forever 
. And now, he's saying that Israel's treating these prisoners like they're warriors? 
the fact that they're denying torture and stuff but then you got this UN commission coming out with 75 deaths? 
And what really gets my goat is that Abu Srour had to spend 32 years in prison for just speaking out against Israel's actions - that's a whole lotta injustice. The fact that he got a five-star hotel treatment upon release but can't even get basic human dignity while behind bars is just mind-boggling 
.
It's not just about torture and abuse, but also about the systemic disregard for human dignity that allows such atrocities to happen in the first place.
This is exactly why many Palestinians feel like they have no choice but to resort to resistance – because they've been pushed to the edge.
The UN commission's report on 75 deaths of Palestinians in Israeli custody is just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless others whose stories will never see the light of day.
It's wild how some people can go from being prisoners to basically living like royalty overnight 
And then you gotta deal with the mental trauma of being locked up for so long... Abu Srour's experience sounds super tough, and it's crazy that he had to witness all this torture and violence in Israel 
I mean, can't we just have a little empathy and understanding towards each other? 
We gotta give ppl like him a safe space to express themselves without fear of reprisal 
It's not fair that he has to navigate his new life with these harsh realities still fresh in his mind... anyway, I'm rooting for him to find some solace & continue writing from the heart 
#JusticeForPalestine #TortureAwareness #FreeTheVoice
.
.
like how they started treating prisoners like "warriors" instead of people, it's crazy. He talked about being beat up, starved, and left out in the cold... it's a miracle he survived that long 
. Can we imagine how hard it must be for someone like Nasser Abu Srour to adjust to life outside of prison, especially when everything seems so luxurious and out of touch with reality? 
. Not buying into this whole "relocation" story either... sounds like they just want outta there 
.
this is so heartbreaking.
beatings, starvation, exposure... it's a torture chamber disguised as a prison 
his story is a testament to the power of hope and identity 
or maybe something more abstract like a broken mirror representing the shattering of identity? 
. Hope he finds peace & safety soon 
.
I'm really disturbed by this update on Nasser Abu Srour's experience in Israeli prisons 
. It's like they're treating these people as war materials rather than human beings 
.
. They deserve a chance at a real life, without all the drama and trauma behind them 
. And hey, who knows? Maybe they'll even find a way to use their experiences to make a difference in the world 
it's not too much to ask. and now he's stuck in limbo, trying to find a new home where he can write without fear of persecution... 
. I mean, who needs a five-star hotel after being locked up for decades? It's all about the optics, you know? 
. Can't we just have a fair system where people are treated with dignity regardless of their circumstances?