Palestinians see the light for the first time in weeks, Israa Jaabis is one of the Palestinian women liberated on Saturday as part of a Hamas-Israel swap.
She had been imprisoned in Israel since 2015 after her automobile broke down on a highway 1.5km (0.0 miles) from a West Bank checkpoint.
The cause of the breakup is debatable. Israelis said it was an attempted car bombing at the time. However, Arab media claimed her car’s engine failed, causing a fire.
Jaabis suffered burns on her face as a result of the event.
She was sentenced to 11 years in prison, serving eight before being freed.
Last year, Jaabis applied to the Israel Prisons Service for a nose job to restore the damage to her face, but her request was denied.
Jaabis, 38, hugged her 15-year-old son Mua’tassim, whom she abandoned when he was only eight.
The reality tempers the jubilation of the hostages’ liberation that many of them have relatives who have been dead or are still being held captive.
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, deputy mayor of Jerusalem, “The sick psychological terror of Hamas: after hours of delay, a girl released without her mother, a sister released without her brother who is 18 years old and fits the criteria, and two children whose mother was murdered released without their father, their only family.”
Palestinians Hug Their Loved Ones As Israel And Hamas Swap Hostages
Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13, is one of the liberated hostages named above; her mother, Raya, has not been released. Itai Regev, Maya Regev’s brother, is still a hostage. Noam, 16, and Alma Or, 13, have been released, but their father, Dror, remains a captive, and their mother, Yonat, was murdered.
Others are affected as well.
Adi Shoham and her children Naveh and Yahel have been released, but Tal Shoham, their husband and father, remains imprisoned.
Shiri Weiss and her daughter Noga were released, but Shiri’s husband is still believed to be imprisoned, and other relatives were killed.
Shoshan Haran has been released, but her husband and sister have been slain.
Tonight, Israel freed the second group of Palestinian prisoners held here. They passed through the Beitunia crossing in the West Bank, where they were hailed by thousands of friends and family members who were waiting out the delays and uncertainties.
Palestinians Hug Their Loved Ones As Israel And Hamas Swap Hostages
What was remarkable tonight, however, was the increased quantity of green Hamas flags compared to the previous night.
Supporters carried large flags, cars were decorated with them, and young men wore Hamas headbands knotted around their brows.
There is a strong impression that Hamas intends to stamp its authority on this agreement by confronting Israeli forces at the checkpoint located within a short distance from Israel’s prison complex.
But there was also a display of force from Israeli troops tonight.
Last night, a crowd surrounded vehicles as they passed through the checkpoint, forcing the Red Cross truck and the bus transporting Palestinian inmates to a halt.
Tonight, Israeli forces deployed tear gas to clear the road before the bus’s arrival and bulldozers to clear all the automobiles from the vicinity.
This agreement may have sometimes appeared flimsy, but both parties wanted to demonstrate their strength.
We have received a statement from Tom Hand, the father of Emily Hand, the Irish Israeli who was released tonight.
Palestinians Hug Their Loved Ones As Israel And Hamas Swap Hostages
“Emily came back to us!” he tells the BBC, thanking those who helped rescue Emily and others who had consoled the family since she was apprehended.
“We can’t find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days,” Tom says.
“We are happy to hug Emily again, but we also remember Raya Rotem and all of the hostages who have yet to return.”
Quote Message: “We will do everything in our power to bring them home.” by Tom Hand
We will continue to do everything possible to bring them home.”
SOURCE – (BBC)
