Released Palestinians from Israeli detention exhibit severe signs of emaciation and abuse.

Over 600 Palestinians were let free on Thursday, following Israel’s acknowledgment of the receipt of coffins with the bodies of four captives from Hamas. However, Israel deferred the release of two Palestinian women and 44 children.

This exchange marked the conclusion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

Some Palestinians with serious injuries were taken to the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, while others went to Egypt and the occupied West Bank.

Alaa al-Bayari, released to Gaza City, recounted witnessing “torture, beating, humiliation,” and other forms of abuse during his imprisonment, including being subjected to water and electric shocks.

Yahya Shrida, a prisoner freed in Ramallah, likened his experience in Israeli prisons to being in “graveyards,” highlighting the extreme nature of their suffering and delays in their release process.

Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Gaza for Al Jazeera, noted that many returnees had limbs amputated and suffered from severe injuries as a result of Israeli torture.

“Many family members have broken down in tears upon seeing their loved ones,” Abu Azzoum reported, adding that the released prisoners confirmed they endured some of the worst torture methods at the hands of Israeli forces.

Footage and tweets shared by Quds News Network showed emotional reunions and the grievous conditions of those released.

One clip highlighted a family member’s shock at a relative’s emaciated state, saying, “Look at the difference, oh my God!”

At a reunion in Jenin, West Bank, the freed prisoner Louay Saabneh met his son Jabal for the first time after several years of imprisonment.

Earlier, Hamas transferred the bodies of four captives to Israel through the Red Cross, identified as Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, Itzik Elgarat, and Shlomo Mantzur, according to Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

In a public statement, Hamas expressed its “full commitment” to the ceasefire and readiness to negotiate the second phase of the agreement.

The group added that Israel’s attempts to block prisoner releases had failed, prompting it to push forward with negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire deal.

Hamas also urged other nations to abandon their “double standards” regarding Israeli captives without acknowledging the abuse faced by Palestinian prisoners.