Joy and Pain Converge as Families Reunite with Palestinian Prisoners
Families in Ramallah celebrated the long-awaited release of 110 Palestinian prisoners, marking a moment of hope amidst years of suffering.
Families gathered in the heart of Ramallah on Thursday to welcome their loved ones freed from Israeli prisons under the Al-Aqsa Flood deal between the Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli government. The joy was evident as they welcomed the Palestinian prisoners back home.
Among the released prisoners was Zakaria Zubeidi, a prominent figure in the Palestinian resistance, whose release became a symbol of the triumph of those who had been incarcerated for years.
Over 110 prisoners were also freed, including those with life-serving sentences. The return of so many Palestinian prisoners was celebrated by the community.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Jazeera, prisoners and their families shared their emotions and feelings upon their release. The outpouring of support for the Palestinian prisoners highlighted the significance of the event.
Among those released was Qasem Muslim, who spent 24 years in Israeli prisons.
Muslim, who had been imprisoned since 2000, expressed his joy to Al-Jazeera, saying, “This joy is indescribable. We knew for sure that we would be released and that the resistance would not abandon us.”
Muslim, now 56 years old, was unable to stand on his feet due to years of physical abuse during his imprisonment, and he recounted how the brutality had intensified in the final months of his detention.
“Every day, we were beaten, even the day of our release, starting from 1 AM. The beatings never stopped,” he explained to Al-Jazeera. The conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners were harsh and unrelenting.
The celebration was not just for the high-profile prisoners but also for those who had been sentenced to life terms under harsh conditions.
The release of Hytham al-‘Anteri, who had spent 24 years behind bars, brought particular joy to his family, especially his sister, Thaira.
She told Al-Jazeera, “He was like a son to me after my mother passed away, and I never thought I would see him again without a barrier between us.” The emotional reunion underscored the importance of freeing Palestinian prisoners.
