Palestinian waits to embrace his father for the primary time

After a delay of a number of hours, there have been scenes exulting right here in Ramallah, the place about 60 Palestinian prisoners had been free of Israeli detention within the arms of their glad family members.

Among these launched and tasting freedom for the primary time in 22 years there was 47 -year -old Hussain Nassar, who was arrested in 2003 for collaborating within the second Palestinian nips or revolt.

There to satisfy him there have been his daughters, 22 years outdated Hedaya and Raghad, who’re 21 years outdated. Both had been dressed with the stunning pink and conventional black garments of Nablus, their hometown.

The youthful daughter had beforehand informed me that it was inconceivable to explain life for thus lengthy with out his father.

“This is the primary time that I’ll contact it. I’ll embrace him. I can not categorical my emotions.”

Almost trembling with the joy of assembly his father, he mentioned “The Israelis arrested him when my mother was pregnant with me. I really feel that that is the primary time that I’ll know what a father means!”

Among the 110 Palestinian prisoners launched at this stage of what’s nonetheless a fragile ceased the fireplace, there have been a number of ladies and kids, the youngest of 15 years.

Some of them had been accused of comparatively minor crimes, others had not been satisfied or formally accused.

But 21 prisoners sentenced for probably the most severe crimes, together with the homicide, weren’t licensed by Israel to return residence to the Palestinian territories and had been exiled to Egypt or in neighboring international locations.

A senior determine who was not despatched to exile, regardless of being condemned for his involvement within the dying of a number of Israelis, was Zakaria Zubeidi.

The former commander of the Brigades of the Martyrs of Al-Aqsa was one of many quite a few prisoners transported above by exulting supporters on the streets close to the Civic Center of Ramallah.

It was a scene, just like the earlier Hamas energy present in Gaza, who will annoy many Israelis and undoubtedly renewed calls by some proper -wing politicians for the battle towards Hamas in Gaza to renew after this preliminary six weeks of the Il Ceissa the Fire is over.

For the governor of Ramallah and El Bireh, Dr. Leila Abu Ghanaam, this return residence for thus many former prisoners was a possibility to have a good time.

But he had conflicting feelings whereas Israeli navy operations intensify within the northern a part of occupied West Bank, and the ceased Gaza’s hearth remains to be underneath effort.

“All the Palestinians are pleased with the discharge of the prisoners, however we’re unhappy for what is occurring within the provinces proper now. The moms in the present day, regardless of how glad they’re for the discharge of their kids, are additionally unhappy for these moms who’ve misplaced their properties and their kids “.

Today it was one of many only a few days, whereas coated this intractable battle, that I noticed so many glad faces between Palestinians and Israelis.

It was a horrible and harmful battle that broke so many lives.

Governor Ghanaam accused the Israeli authorities of not being excited about peace. “But let’s not lose hope,” he mentioned smiling. “If we misplaced hope, the Palestinians would have ended up 75 years in the past.”

The subsequent lot of prisoner outputs in alternate for Israeli hostages ought to happen on Saturday.