GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Israeli authorities on Wednesday released 16 Palestinians, including a boy and an elderly woman, who were arrested from areas across the Gaza Strip in the course of its ground operation that has been taking place since Oct. 27.

According to Anadolu correspondent, the Palestinians were released through the Israeli army's Kissufim military post in the east of Deir al-Balah city, the central Gaza Strip

The correspondent noted that 13 of the released Palestinians were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah due to their health conditions.

"When being checked by doctors, there were signs of torture on their bodies," Anadolu correspondent added.

In the past months, the Israeli army released in batches dozens of Palestinians from Gaza most of which were suffering difficult health conditions along with signs of torture on their bodies.

Recently released Palestinians confirmed in their testimonies that they were subjected to torture, humiliation, and harsh interrogation during their detention.

Thousands of Palestinians were arrested by the Israeli army from different areas across the Gaza Strip but still, the Israeli authorities reject to give an exact number of the Palestinians arrested from Gaza.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.

Over 38,700 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and more than 89,000 injured, according to local health authorities.

Over nine months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar