Palestinians prepare to welcome home relatives released from Israeli prisons

AP , Saturday 18 Jan 2025

Ahead of the first day of the ceasefire, some Palestinians in the West Bank prepare to welcome home their relatives. Some have spent years in Israeli prisons.

Gaza
The daughter of Mohammad al-Halabi, Palestinian aid worker and Gaza operations manager for ecumenical Christian humanitarian aid organisation World Vision International -- who was arrested at the Erez border crossing with Israel in 2016, holds a phone showing his picture as she sits with family members after they are notified of his release at a house in Zawayda in the central Gaza Strip. AFP

 

Earlier this week, Israel’s Justice Ministry published a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners set to be released on Sunday. Israel has detained thousands of Palestinians during the war on Gaza and stands accused of numerous cases of torture.

In the West Bank village of Kafr Niema, the Ataya family hopes to mark their son’s birthday on Sunday with his release.

“He will turn 19 and begin his 20th year. It will be a celebration of a new year of his life and God willing, his release,” said his father, Nasser Ataya.

His son, Osama, is on the list. He was arrested after the war broke out in October 2023 on alleged terror charges, his father said.

Israel has frequently detained Palestinians arbitrarily and without trial on similar charges, rarely providing evidence.

Israel’s Prison Services says it will carry out the transportation of the prisoners when they’re released, rather than the International Red Cross, to avoid “public expressions of joy.”

The lists of prisoners are also published to allow members of the public to petition Israeli courts against the release of a specific prisoner. They can submit petitions until Sunday, a spokesperson for the Justice Ministry said.

According to the rights group B'Tselem, as of the end of June 2024, Israel’s Prison Services were holding 9,440 Palestinians in detention or prison on what it defined as “security” grounds, including 1,761 from the Gaza Strip. At the same time, it was holding 1,526 Palestinians, including 11 from the Gaza Strip, for being in Israel illegally.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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