A report revealed that Israeli prisons played a pivotal role in shaping and forming a generation of Hamas leaders, most notably Yahya Sinwar, who spent more than 20 years in captivity.
Sinwar emerged from 'Hadarim' prison armed with a deep understanding of his adversary, having learned Hebrew and studied Jewish history.
Israel has long pursued an approach of unequal deals for prisoner exchanges, making the abduction of Israelis an effective leverage tool in the hands of Palestinian factions.
Similar experiences affected other leaders such as Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Ismail Haniyeh, causing Israel to fear repeating the same mistake.
UN reports have documented cases of torture and sexual assaults within prisons, while Israel denies the violations and asserts its commitment to international law.
Tel Aviv released 1,700 Palestinian detainees in the recent ceasefire deal, raising concerns about their reorganization away from Israeli oversight.
The prisons that Israel intended to be a means of deterrence have turned into incubators for the formation of Hamas leaders.
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The Times: Israeli prisons are creating a generation of Hamas leaders