Most Gazan suspects detained by Israel were found to be involved in terrorist activity after interrogation, the IDF's international spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Nadav Shoshani argued on X/Twitter on Thursday, disputing a Guardian report that claimed only a quarter were actually "fighters."
The report said that 75% of Israeli prisoners were non-combatants, including “elderly women with Alzheimer’s, medical workers, and children.”
“Those who were not found to be involved in terrorist activities were not classified as unlawful combatants and were released back to Gaza,” Shoshani stated.
The Guardian article, which cites “classified data” and soldier testimony, stated the Sde Teiman military base had so many sick and elderly detainees that they were kept in their own hangar, called “the geriatric pen.”
Gazan detainee with Alzheimer's
The article highlighted the case of Faheema Saeed al-Kaldi Khalil, an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer's who was reported separated from her children and jailed for six weeks.
According to the IDF, Khalil was arrested by Israeli forces and released after receiving a temporary detention order.
“Her detention was based on specific intelligence concerning her personally; however, in light of her current condition, the detention was not appropriate and was the result of a local, isolated error in judgment,” the military stated, adding that after her release, the IDF implemented guidelines regarding the detention of elderly individuals.
“The article is based on numerous inaccuracies, and the claims made in the article reflect a misunderstanding of the detention procedures in Israel,” Shoshani stated.