The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has said the poor health of the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel “illustrates its ongoing use of torture to terrorise and persecute” them, Al Jazeera reports.

A statement by the Switzerland-based group said: “The repeated release of such visibly unhealthy individuals from Israeli prisons reveals that the heinous torture and willful medical neglect they endure have escalated to appalling levels.”

The organisation stressed that “the atrocities occurring in these prisons are among the worst violations recorded by human rights organisations worldwide”.

The group said Israel’s violations became evident after the transfer of some of the released prisoners to the European Gaza Hospital in southern Gaza.

“Dozens of them required urgent medical care because their bodies showed signs of torture and inhumane treatment, including deprivation of necessary medical care and treatment,” it added.