After his image captured the attention of the entire world, the Palestinian detainee who appeared naked in front of his guard spoke about the picture that shocked social media with its brutality. Hamza Abu Halima stated that a message must be conveyed to Israel, saying, "You are our enemy because you are on our land; get out of our land, and thus you are not our enemy." He added, "We are weak, but we are strong in God... and victory is near."
**Inhumane Act**
The image of Abu Halima, posted by an Israeli soldier on his Facebook and Instagram accounts in February, sparked a storm of criticism for this inhumane and disgraceful act. The Israeli military arrested Hamza in December 2023 after he was injured by shrapnel in his right leg during an incursion into his relatives' home in the Al-Yarmouk neighborhood. They stripped him of his clothes and took him from the "Yarmouk" area, east of the city, to "Palestine Stadium" in the west. Hamza underwent a harsh interrogation for about four hours before Israeli military forces later released him.
The military commented on the widely circulated photo, which ignited fierce criticism and angry responses, stating that the detainee was released due to a lack of evidence against him, according to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. The report added that the soldier who published the image, a reservist, was discharged from service due to his actions. It also clarified that the photo was taken inside a school in the northern Gaza neighborhood of Al-Rimal.
