A year after his release from Israeli prison, a Gaza nurse says he is still waiting to feel free
"Gaza is a huge prison ... I went from a small hell to a much bigger one."
LONDON -- Wissam Hassan al-Sakani was detained during an Israeli raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital, held for nearly 11 months without charge and eventually released under a ceasefire deal. But for the 40-year-old nurse, freedom has brought a new set of fears, hardships and grief.
On Dec. 27, 2024, Israeli troops raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, as tanks surrounded the area and medical workers were marched through the rubble of their neighborhood.
Among those detained was al-Sakani, a nurse at the hospital who had spent years caring for the wounded.
The Israeli military described the hospital as a "Hamas terrorist center." A spokesperson for Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health categorically denied the allegations.
For al-Sakani, the raid marked the beginning of nearly 11 months in Israeli custody.
"The condition would eat away at you. Your body would feel like it was being devoured. You'd sit there thinking you were dying," he said.
Held without charge, al-Sakani says he was subjected to harsh conditions, including sleep deprivation, inadequate medical care and the withholding of medication.
"It was a difficult and bitter experience. I never imagined something like this would happen," he told ABC News.
Al-Sakani said he repeatedly questioned why he was being detained. According to him, authorities accused him of being affiliated with Hamas because he worked for the hospital.
ABC News asked the Israeli military about the circumstances of the nurse's arrest. The IDF declined to comment.
The Israel Prison Service rejected allegations of mistreatment, telling ABC News that it operates in accordance with the law and under judicial and official oversight.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it has been unable to visit Palestinian detainees held in Israeli detention facilities since October 2023.
"There are limits to what we know," ICRC spokesperson Pat Griffiths told ABC News, adding that only Israeli authorities can grant the organization humanitarian access.
Al-Sakani was eventually freed as part of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States in October 2025, which saw Hamas release the remaining living hostages and Israel release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
But his release has not brought an end to the hardship.
Al-Sakani's daily routine is shaped by the struggle to access basic necessities. He says he earns just 1,000 Israeli shekels, around $250, every three months.
The financial hardship is only part of what he has returned to.
During his imprisonment, al-Sakani was separated from his wife, Iman, and their 3-year-old daughter, Misk. He returned to a family still grieving the loss of their son, Hassan.
Hassan, 8, was killed in the early days of the war on Nov. 23, 2023 -- his birthday.
His wife recalls an explosive barrel destroying their home while the family was inside. A collapsing wall buried Hassan beneath the rubble.
"We struggled to pull him out from under the rubble," Iman told ABC News.
For al-Sakani, the loss remains ever-present.
"He is with me every minute," he said.
Now, his life revolves around his wife and daughter, in a home where a single window provides much of the light.
"Gaza is a huge prison. It's hell," he said. "I went from a small hell to a much bigger one."
A year after walking out of prison, al-Sakani says he is still waiting for the freedom he imagined.
His dream is to leave Gaza.
"I want to leave with nothing. I don't want anything," he said. "I just want to forget the memories, leave the pain behind, and start a new life."
Related Topics
Popular Reads
ABC News Live