In a deeply disturbing and symbolic act of protest, freed Palestinian detainees recently burned shirts that had been forcibly given to them by Israeli authorities as part of a prisoner exchange. The shirts, which bore the Star of David logo and the Arabic phrase “we will not forget or forgive,” were widely condemned as a racist and humiliating tactic. This incident, which unfolded during a tense prisoner swap, has sparked outrage and highlighted the ongoing tensions and injustices faced by Palestinians in their struggle for dignity and freedom.
The prisoner exchange took place on Saturday, February 15, 2025, following days of intense negotiations. Under the agreement, 369 Palestinian detainees were released in exchange for three captives held in Gaza. However, the exchange was marred by a controversial decision by the Israel Prison Service to force the released Palestinians to wear shirts emblazoned with the provocative slogan and the Star of David. Themultiply offensive nature of this move became immediately apparent, as many of the detainees opted to wear the shirts inside out in an effort to conceal the demeaning message.
Upon their return to Gaza, a group of freed Palestinians and their families gathered at the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis to publicly burn the uniforms. This act of defiance was captured in footAGRge shared by Al Jazeera and other news outlets, showing the shirts being set ablaze as a rejection of the humiliation inflicted upon them. The burning of the shirts served as both a symbolic and practical response to what many viewed as a blatant attempt to degrade and dehumanize the detainees. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other groups quickly condemned the move, labeling it a “racist crime” that violated basic principles of humanity and dignity.
The backlash extended beyond Palestinian circles, as criticism emerged within Israel itself. According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the decision to force the detainees to wear the shirts was made by Israel’s Prison Commissioner, Kobi Yaacobi. However, the Israeli government’s political leadership reportedly had no prior knowledge of the plan, leading to internal criticism. Expert observers, such as Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, characterized the move as part of a broader strategy to dehumanize Palestinians. Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which facilitated the prisoner exchange, expressed concern over the lack of dignity afforded to the detainees, calling for more respectful and private transfers in the future.
The incident has reignited discussions about the long-standing practices of humiliation and degradation faced by Palestinian prisoners at the hands of Israeli authorities. Xavier Abu Eid, a political analyst based in Bethlehem, noted that this was not an isolated incident but rather part of a larger pattern of systemic humiliation. He emphasized that such actions not only harm the prisoners themselves but also their families and communities, deepening the emotional and psychological scars of occupation. Since the ceasefire began in January, 24 captives and 985 Palestinians have been released, according to the ICRC, but the conditions of their release have often been contentious and dehumanizing.
The provocative shirts and the subsequent burning of them serve as a potent metaphor for the broader struggle for Palestinian rights and dignity. The use of such tactics by Israeli authorities underscores the power dynamics at play, where even moments of release and reunion are marred by attempts to assert dominance and erase Palestinian identity. The widespread condemnation of this act, both locally and internationally, highlights the urgent need for a more compassionate and just approach to handling prisoners and upholding human rights in one of the world’s most enduring conflicts. As the burns of the shirts fade, the scars of this humiliation will remain, serving as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and dignity in the region.
