The excitement in Ramallah was palpable. Crowds had gathered, eager to greet the Palestinian prisoners arriving from Israeli jails. As the bus doors opened, people rushed forward, crying out the names of loved ones they hadn’t seen in years.
Among the freed was Saber Masalma. After 24 years in prison, he was welcomed with open arms. One relative quickly held up his phone for a video call, eager to connect the freed prisoner to family members. The joy was intense, but so was concern for their health. Many had lost weight and appeared weak after long periods of harsh conditions.
On Monday, Israel released 88 Palestinians to the West Bank, while nearly 2,000 others were sent back to Gaza. This marked a crucial moment, as it followed the return of all Israeli hostages from Gaza, hinting at a potential ceasefire.
According to reports from the Israeli NGO HaMoked, around 11,056 Palestinians were held in Israeli prisons as of October 2025, with 3,500 in administrative detention without trial. Notably, a military database revealed that only 25% of detainees identified as fighters.
While families celebrated reunions, many bore the scars of their imprisonment. A former inmate described the conditions as “horrible,” fearing backlash if he elaborated. Another echoed this, calling the past two years the “worst” of his life. Human rights groups, like B’Tselem, assert that abuse of Palestinian detainees is systematic, with inadequate medical care and frequent instances of physical violence reported.
Activists argue that Israel uses mass imprisonment as a strategy to maintain control over the Palestinian territories. Statistics suggest that about 40% of Palestinians may have experienced arrest at some point.
Although joyous reunions were the focus for many, the atmosphere was complicated. Families faced police warnings against celebrations, and some relatives shared experiences of police visits ahead of the releases. They were cautioned not to gather or display flags, as security forces monitored the situation closely.
As the buses arrived, some families found their loved ones were not on the list. Umm Abed anxiously awaited her brother Kamal Imran’s arrival, only to be told moments before that he would be deported to Gaza. Her disappointment was compounded by the uncertainty of ever seeing him again.
This emotional day highlighted both the hope of reunification and the harsh realities many families face. The reactions were both uplifting and heartbreaking, capturing the complexity of life in the region.
Like Umm Abed, many are left with unanswered questions. Why were certain prisoners deported? Where would they go? Such uncertainty looms large, even amid moments of joy.
Source link
