For six months after becoming impossible, Ahmed Wael Dababish continued to dream of a simple reunion with his wife, Asma, and their four children. A nurse from Gaza, Dababish had last seen his family on the night of December 2023, when Israeli troops attacked the school they had taken refuge in. Men were ordered into the courtyard and many, including Dababish, were detained without charges or access to lawyers. When an Israeli shell killed Asma, 29, and their youngest daughter, three-year-old Ghina, in August 2024, news of this couldn’t reach him. He was released in February under a ceasefire agreement, shortly after turning 33 in prison, and was overwhelmed to see his father and cousins, but the joy turned to grief when he asked about his wife and children. His tragedy is not alone, as there are many Palestinians from Gaza whose immediate families were killed while they were held by the Israeli military or in civil prisons without charge or trial, only learning about their losses upon their release months later. This isolation has been enforced since October 2023, preventing any communication between detainees and their families.

The three men featured in this story—civilians who have not taken up arms—say they had no access to legal representation and could not communicate with their families. Legal rights groups indicate that there are likely many other detainees in similar situations. The Israeli military denies any system of isolating Palestinians from the outside world and says that many detainees have already met with lawyers. However, with thousands still in detention, concerns remain about the welfare and rights of these detainees.

Ahmed Wael Dababish and others like him face significant challenges in rebuilding their lives after the loss and trauma they have endured. The shocking reality of their experiences underscores the urgent need for international attention and action to address the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and to uphold their human rights.