Palestinian waits to hug her father for the primary time

After a delay of a number of hours, there have been jubilant scenes right here in Ramallah the place round 60 Palestinian prisoners have been free of Israeli detention into the arms of their overjoyed family members.

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

There to satisfy him have been his daughters, 22-old Hedaya and Raghad, who’s 21. Each have been dressed within the placing conventional crimson and black clothes from Nablus, their hometown.

The youthful daughter had earlier informed me that it was unattainable to explain residing for thus lengthy with out her dad.

“That is the primary time I’ll contact him. I’ll hug him. I can’t specific my emotions.”

Nearly shaking with the thrill of assembly her father, she mentioned “the Israelis arrested him when my mum was pregnant with me. I really feel like that is the primary time I’ll know what it is wish to have a father!”

Among the many 110 Palestinian prisoners launched at this stage of what’s nonetheless a fragile ceasefire, have been a number of girls and youngsters – the youngest of them 15 years outdated.

A few of them have been accused of comparatively minor offences, others had not been convicted or formally charged.

However 21 prisoners convicted of essentially the most critical offences, together with homicide, weren’t allowed by Israel to return dwelling to the Palestinian Territories and have been exiled to Egypt or neighbouring nations.

One senior determine who was not despatched into exile, regardless of being convicted for his involvement within the deaths of a number of Israelis, was Zakaria Zubeidi.

The previous commander within the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades was one in every of a number of detainees carried aloft by jubilant supporters by means of the streets close to Ramallah’s civic centre.

It was a scene, like the sooner Hamas present of power in Gaza, that may irk many Israelis and undoubtedly result in renewed calls from some right-wing politicians for the struggle in opposition to Hamas in Gaza to renew after this preliminary six-week part of the ceasefire is over.

For the governor of Ramallah and El Bireh, Dr Leila Abu Ghanam, this homecoming for thus many former prisoners was an event to have a good time.

However she had combined feelings as Israeli army operations intensify within the northern a part of the occupied West Financial institution, and the Gaza ceasefire continues to be underneath pressure.

“All Palestinians are completely happy in regards to the launch of the prisoners however we’re unhappy about what is occurring within the provinces at this very second. Moms right this moment, regardless of how completely happy they’re for the discharge of their youngsters, are additionally unhappy for these moms who’ve misplaced their houses and youngsters.”

Right this moment was one in every of only a few days, whereas protecting this intractable battle, that I’ve seen so many completely happy faces amongst each Palestinians and Israelis.

It has been a horrible, harmful struggle that has shattered so many lives.

Governor Ghanam accused the Israeli authorities of not being considering peace. “However we do not lose hope,” she mentioned, smiling. “If we had misplaced hope, Palestinians would have ended 75 years in the past.”

The subsequent batch of prisoner releases in trade for Israeli hostages ought to occur on Saturday.