Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal: Touching Videos Show Detainees Getting Back to Families
Hours after the Israel-Hamas hostage deal came into effect, videos are circulating the social media showing the emotional, long-awaited encounters between the detainees and their families.
Israel released 39 detainees, 24 of which are women and the rest are teenage boys. Only these 39 detainees out of an Israel-compiled list of 300 women and minors made it out of the Israeli prisons during the first stage of the deal.
In return, Hamas released 24 captives: 13 Israelis, 10 Thai and one Filipino, as per Israel-Hamas hostage deal.
The videos show the captives, some are teenagers, prostrating, grinning from ear to ear and flying the Palestinian and hamas flag, celebrating their hard-earned release, as one of the voices was heared saying in the video.
Look Inside Isrseli prisons
Speaking to Al Jazeera correspondent, one of the teenage Palestinian captives released from Ofeh Prison explained the “extremely tragic” situation inside Israel’s prisons.
“I cannot describe how hard the situation is inside,” said Laith Othman.
“You do not get proper meals,” added the 17-year-old boy, describing the “extreme hunger” from which the detainees suffer.
Besides hunger, he explained that the Palestinians inside are “isolated” from the world outside. Thus, they have no idea what is happening outside the walls of the prison.
Waiting for their release, the detainees were threatened not show any signs of celebration, otherwise, they will be taken back to prison, as per the teenage detainee.
Malak Suleiman
A widely-shared video shows Malak Suleiman eagerly running into her mother’s arms in a long-awaited-bone-crushing hug. Malak’s mother, with happy tears and eyes full of disbelief, showered her daughter with kisses. A hug they both have been longing for for seven years.
In February 2016, when Malak was only 16, the Isreali forces detained Malak. She was sentenced for 10 years in prison, which were later reduced to 9 years.
Despite that, Malak managed to graduate from a high school while being in prison.
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