Two Palestinian mothers from Gaza are convinced that a widely circulated photograph showing a blindfolded and restrained man in Israeli custody is their missing son. The image, released by Israel on June 30, 2026, and obtained by Reuters on July 4, 2026, depicts a man stripped to his underwear, blindfolded, and tied face down on a cot. His hands are bound behind his back, his right foot is tied to the bottom corner of the cot, and a wooden rod runs from his right foot to his neck. The face is mostly obscured.
Israel acknowledges mistreatment but does not identify the man
Israel has confirmed the authenticity of the photo and acknowledged that the treatment shown “does not align” with the military’s values. However, it has not disclosed the man’s identity or his place of detention. The military stated it has identified the incident, an inquiry is underway, and “those involved will be dealt with in accordance with the findings.” A spokesperson declined to provide further details. The Instagram post that first shared the image, which included the Hebrew caption “good morning,” has since been deleted.
Rana Abu Nassar: ‘I know the details of his body’
Rana Abu Nassar said she recognized her son Osama immediately upon seeing the photo two days ago. “I know the details of his body. He has swelling in his foot and scars on his leg — the same swelling on his left leg I saw in the picture,” she told Reuters. Osama was arrested on March 19, 2026, near the so-called “Yellow Line” armistice line with Hamas militants. His arrest drew international attention because he was detained along with his 1-year-old child, who was released the same day with what his family said were cigarette burn marks on his legs. Abu Nassar said Osama suffers from mental health issues and that a “normal person would not take his son to that area,” where Israeli forces frequently open fire on Palestinians. Israel’s military rejected allegations that its forces abused the child, stating the marks resulted from warning shots fired to compel Osama not to approach the Yellow Line. Reuters could not independently verify the circumstances of the arrest.
Joudeh Al-Ghoul: ‘A mother’s heart can recognize her son’
Joudeh Al-Ghoul, whose son Amin was arrested in November 2023 while trying to travel from southern Gaza to the north, also said she identified the man in the image instantly. “It’s him — his hair and chin. He is my son. A mother’s heart can recognize her son. I hugged the mobile phone and started crying,” she said from a displaced persons camp in Gaza City. “He is my son, my soul, my life.” Amin Al-Ghoul’s brother displayed a mobile phone showing the image in Gaza City on July 4, 2026, to support the family’s claim.
Palestinian group seeks lawyer visits
Approximately 1,200 Palestinians from Gaza are held in Israel under the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law, which allows indefinite detention for those believed to have participated directly or indirectly in hostile acts. Amani Sarahneh of the Palestinian Prisoners Society said the organization has submitted both men’s names to the military to try to arrange lawyer visits. “Visits do take place, but with great difficulty. The coordination process takes a very long time,” Sarahneh said.
