Palestinian families rejoice over release of minors, women in prisoner swap

Over three dozen Palestinian prisoners returned home to a heros welcome in the occupied West Bank on Friday following their release from Israeli prisons as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and HamasThe procession of freed prisoners some accused of minor offences and others convicted in attacks at a checkpoint outside of Jerusalem stoked massive crowds of Palestinians into a chanting clapping handwaving screaming frenzyFifteen dazed young men all in stained grey prison sweatsuits and looking tight with exhaustion glided through the streets on the shoulders of their tearyeyed fathers as fireworks turned the night sky to blazing colour and patriotic Palestinian pop music blaredSome of those released were draped in Palestinian flags others in the green flags of Hamas They flashed victory signs as they crowdsurfedI have no words I have no words said newly released 17yearold Jamal Brahma searching for something to say to the hordes of jostling journalists and thousands of chanting Palestinians many in national dress Thank GodTears fell down his father Khalil Brahmas cheeks as he brought his son down from his shoulders and looked him in the eye for the first time in seven months Israeli forces had arrested Jamal at his home in the Palestinian city of Jericho last spring and detained him without charge or trialI just want to be his father again he saidThe release of the Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails came just hours after two dozen hostages including 13 Israelis were released from captivity in Gaza in the initial exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners during the fourday ceasefire that started on FridayAlthough the atmosphere was festive in the town of Beitunia near Israels hulking Ofer Prison in the West Bank people were on edgeThe Israeli government has ordered police to shut down celebrations over the release Israeli security forces at one point unleashed tear gas canisters on the crowds sending young men old women and small children sprinting away as they wept and screamed in painThe army is trying to take this moment away from us but they cant Mays Foqaha said as she tumbled into the arms of her newly released 18yearold friend Nour alTaher from Nablus who was arrested during a protest in September at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem This is our day of victoryThe Palestinian detainees freed on Friday included 24 women some of whom had been sentenced to yearslong prison terms over attempted stabbings and other attacks on Israeli security forces Others had been accused of incitement on social mediaThere were also the 15 male teenagers most of them charged with stonethrowing and supporting terrorism a broadly defined accusation that underscores Israels longrunning crackdown on young Palestinian men as violence surges in the occupied territoryFor families on both sides of the conflict news of the exchange perhaps the first hopeful moment in 49 days of war stirred a bittersweet jumble of joy and anguishAs a Palestinian my heart is broken for my brothers in Gaza so I cant really celebrate said Abdulqader Khatib a UN worker whose 17yearold son Iyas was placed last year in administrative detention without charges or trial and based on secret evidence But I am a father And deep inside I am very happyIsrael is now holding an alltime high of 2200 Palestinians in administrative detention according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club an advocacy group in a controversial policy that Israel defends as a counterterrorism measureSince October 7 when Hamas took roughly 240 Israeli and foreign citizens hostage and killed 1200 Israelis in its unprecedented rampage through southern Israel Palestinians have wondered about the fate of their own prisonersIsrael has a history of agreeing to lopsided exchanges In 2011 Hamas got Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to release more than 1000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a single captive Israeli soldier Gilad SchalitA prisoner release touches Palestinian society to its core Almost every Palestinian has a relative in jail or has been there himself Human rights groups estimate that over 750000 Palestinians have passed through Israeli prisons since Israel captured the West Bank Gaza and east Jerusalem in 1967Whereas Israel views them as terrorists Palestinians refer to them by the Arabic word for prisoners of war and devote a good chunk of public funds to supporting them and their families Israel and the US have condemned the grants to prisoner families as an incentive for violenceThese kinds of prisoner exchanges are often the only hope families have to see their sons or fathers released before many years go by said Amira Khader international advocacy officer at Addameer a group supporting Palestinian prisoners Its what they live for its like a miracle from GodSince the Hamas attack Israel has escalated a monthslong West Bank crackdown on Palestinians suspected of ties to Hamas and other militant groups Many prisoners are convicted by military courts which prosecute Palestinians with a conviction rate of more than 99 per cent Rights groups say Palestinians are often denied due process and forced into confessionsThere are now 7200 Palestinians in Israeli prison said Qadura Fares the director of the Palestinian Prisoners Club with over 2000 arrested since October 7 aloneThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever