BETUNIA, West Bank, 7 August 2003 — Hundreds of Palestinians held emotional reunions with their families yesterday after being released from Israeli prisons in a goodwill gesture that failed to garner much gratitude. Many could be seen flashing victory signs and kissing the ground as they were deposited at checkpoints dotted around the West Bank and Gaza Strip after finally leaving Israeli custody.
But they dismissed their freedom — the first large-scale releases by Israel — as a largely empty gesture and expressed solidarity with thousands of colleagues still behind bars. “Of course, I am happy but my happiness will only be complete when all my friends are released,” said Hamad Al-Rimawi as he crossed this military checkpoint near Ramallah with other former inmates.
The 21-year-old had been set free 15 months into a 20-month sentence.
But Taghrid Abdelaziz, 52, showed unbridled joy, breaking into tears as she hugged her newly liberated son Ahmed. “I am so happy, I thank God,” she said.
Her 25-year-old son was held in administrative detention for one year and released two weeks before he was due to be set free.
Similar scenes could be seen around the Tarqumia checkpoint near the West Bank city of Hebron where 107 men crossed in buses. A group of 46 was also released at the Salem checkpoint near Jenin while another 27 were delivered to the Erez crossing on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
They were greeted by around a dozen supporters who were carrying Palestinian flags and chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great).
“There are several thousand heroes still in the occupiers’ jails,” Mohammed Abu Daher, 27, from Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza said, having served 27 months after being convicted of being a member of Hamas. “We cannot be completely happy if anyone is in an Israeli jail. It’s a big trick from the Israeli occupation.”
According to lists published Monday by Israel’s prison services, 342 Palestinians held for security reasons were to be released. The list included 159 “administrative detainees”, suspected militants who have not faced trial. Another 183 have been convicted of anti-Israeli activity. It was not clear if all had been released.
Witnesses said Israeli forces arrested 18 Palestinian security men in the West Bank city of Jericho yesterday. The army did not immediately comment.
Senior Hamas leader Abdelaziz Rantissi said the releases were a “drama” staged by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for the cameras. “It’s a show for the media, a big trick. Sharon is showing bad faith,” Rantissi said. “If Israel doesn’t release all prisoners this will destroy the hudna (truce).”
Mohammed Al-Hindi, political leader of Islamic Jihad, also dismissed the move as “a ploy and a trick”.
