Arabic version: أم من غزة تخشى على أبنائها المسجونين مع تمرير قانون عقوبة الإعدام

Inaam al-Dahdouh, a 62-year-old mother from Gaza City, is grappling with the pain of having three sons detained since December 15, 2023. As Palestinian Prisoners’ Day approaches, she reflects on the deepening anguish caused by their imprisonment and the recent approval of a law in Israel that allows for the execution of Palestinian prisoners. According to Al Jazeera, this year marks a significant change in her emotional landscape.

The law, passed by the Israeli parliament on March 30, 2026, permits the death penalty for those convicted in military courts of killing Israelis. This development has raised fears among families of Palestinian detainees, as the number of imprisoned Palestinians has surged to over 9,600 since the onset of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, a staggering increase of nearly 83 percent.

Inaam’s sons—30-year-old Mahmoud, 27-year-old Alaa, and 24-year-old Diaa—were detained after a violent Israeli assault near their home. Since their arrest, information about their wellbeing has been scarce, and the family lives in constant uncertainty. Inaam struggles to maintain hope, clinging to any news from released prisoners who provide fragments of information about her sons’ conditions.

The recent law has intensified her fears. “I could bear the idea of hunger, suffering, or even torture in prison, but not this,” she expressed, emphasizing the psychological toll of knowing that execution could be a possibility for her sons. Despite reassurances that the law targets specific categories of prisoners, she remains anxious about its implications for her family.

In the absence of her sons, Inaam dedicates her time to raising their children and instilling values through teachings of the Quran. She believes that a global effort is necessary to challenge Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners and advocates for their right to live with dignity. “What is happening to prisoners is something insane… something the human mind cannot comprehend,” she stated, calling for international awareness and action against the injustices faced by imprisoned Palestinians.