Family of released Palestinian prisoners awaits reunion three decades after arrest
Mohammed al-Burai, the son of one of the released Palestinian prisoners who have arrived in Khan Younis, told Al Jazeera he was a two-year-old toddler when his father was arrested.
“Now, I’m 32 and my son is six,” he said as he stood in front of the European Hospital in Khan Younis, waiting for his father to complete medical checks and be allowed to reunite with his family.
“I’m so grateful to God for having the opportunity to see my father and I hope that all the other prisoners will be released,” al-Burai said.
Palestinian prisoners released in Gaza and West Bank
Palestinian prisoners have been released in Ramallah in the West Bank and Khan Younis in Gaza in exchange for Israeli captives.
Freed prisoner Zakaria Zubeidi, a former high-profile commander of the Fatah-aligned Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, travels by bus near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank after his release
At least 20 freed Palestinian prisoners have arrived in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, and will undergo medical checks at the European Hospital.
The families are gathered around the vehicles transporting them, but they will have to wait for the medical checks to finish before they can be reunited with the prisoners.
We have seen mothers and wives dressed in traditional clothing, and people signing popular songs. Everyone is filled with happiness and joy as they wait to hug their loved ones again.
A freed Palestinian prisoner is welcomed in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip after his release
Palestinian prisoners reflect ‘a nation that has been caged’ by Israel
Xavier Abu Eid, a political analyst based in the occupied West Bank, said that while Palestinians were celebrating the release of dozens of loved ones as part of the ceasefire deal, many more remained in Israeli custody.
“We have to remember that we have over 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and according to this ceasefire agreement only 750 are going to be released by the end of this first stage,” said Abu Eid, noting that around 1,000 people from Gaza who were “totally innocent, not found guilty of anything” were arrested
after October 7.
“The Palestinian prisoners’ issue reflects on the overall reality of a nation that has been caged by the Israeli occupation,” Abu Eid added.
Palestinians celebrate prisoners’ release
In Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, large crowds are celebrating the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Freed Palestinian prisoners celebrate after being released as part of a prisoners-captives swap
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