World Courant
Jerusalem – With tears of pleasure streaming down her cheeks and a glance of disbelief, Sawsan Bakeer ran down the steps to greet her 24-year-old daughter Marah, who had simply been launched after eight years in an Israeli jail.
Marah Bakeer is certainly one of 39 Palestinian ladies and kids launched from Israeli prisons on Friday in alternate for 13 Hamas prisoners below a Qatar-brokered deal that features a four-day truce in Gaza.
“I informed you Marah is gorgeous,” Sawsan informed reporters as she hugged her daughter and showered her with countless kisses. “Not as a result of she’s really my daughter, however Marah is gorgeous, and it’s important to see that for your self.”
Earlier than her captivity, Bakeer was a 16-year-old highschool scholar at al-Maimouna Faculty within the occupied Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
Each day she walked from her household dwelling in Beit Hanina to highschool, crossing a freeway that runs between East and West Jerusalem.
Whereas she was on her method dwelling on October 12, 2015, Israeli forces shot her and arrested her for allegedly making an attempt to stab an Israeli officer. Baker and her household deny the allegations.
When she was arrested, Bakeer lay on the sidewalk with twelve gunshot wounds to her arm and hand, leaving her with everlasting harm. She was sentenced to eight years and 6 months in jail.
Baker was a toddler when she was in jail and would serve her sentence and return dwelling in 4 months.
‘I wanted my mom’s love’
When she was lately launched, Bakeer informed Al Jazeera that her time in jail was powerful, however she endured it because of her religion in God and the help of her household and fellow Palestinian prisoners.
“There have been numerous onerous instances in jail, however like everybody else going by means of life, they handed.
“Jail was particularly troublesome as a result of I used to be younger (once I was in jail) and I wanted my mom’s love and my household’s help.
“Though there have been many fellow prisoners who cared for me and helped me, nothing can exchange the love of a mom,” she stated as Sawsan held her.
About 8,000 Palestinians stay in Israeli prisons, together with 3,000 held over the previous seven weeks amid an rising variety of armed Israeli incursions within the West Financial institution.
Over the following 4 days, 150 Palestinian prisoners and 50 Israeli hostages might be launched.
Marah Bakeer along with her mom, Sawsan, after her launch from an Israeli jail (Faiz Abu Ramleh/Al Jazeera)
Solitary confinement earlier than launch
Over the course of her captivity, Baker has change into one thing of a political determine, representing all feminine prisoners for the federal government of Damon Jail in northern Israel, the place feminine Palestinian prisoners and minors are held.
After the Hamas assault on October 7, Israel moved Bakeer, together with different jail leaders, to a different jail, in Jalame, and positioned her in solitary confinement.
For greater than six weeks she was not allowed to speak along with her fellow prisoners or obtain data from the skin world.
“It was a really troublesome time as a result of they stored me away from the remaining, and that was in the course of the conflict. I did not know what was taking place to them and that basically affected me,” she informed Al Jazeera.
“What was even tougher was that I did not know something about my household. However I knew God would shield them,” she added.
Baker was taken from her cell on Wednesday, however says she didn’t hear what was taking place.
“After I did not return to my cell, I knew a deal was being negotiated, however I had no concept what the main points have been,” she defined.
It wasn’t till Friday morning that she was informed she could be leaving jail.
No celebrations, Israel orders households
Previous to Baker’s launch, her household stated that they had no details about when she would come dwelling till Israeli forces stormed their dwelling and requested all relations and friends to go away. They warned in opposition to any indicators of pleasure or celebration upon Baker’s arrival, the household stated.
Baker’s father, Jawdat, was taken for questioning at a Jerusalem police station and warned that the household would present no signal of pleasure over Marah’s launch.
“Marah got here to our home in the present day. We simply acquired her, however they (Israeli forces) threatened to storm the home and arrest me if we rejoice,” he informed Al Jazeera.
Israeli forces additionally blocked all entry to the neighborhood the place Baker’s childhood house is positioned. They’ve stationed troopers in entrance of the home in order that no teams can collect.
Qadura Fares, head of the NGO Palestinian Prisoners Membership, stated 33 prisoners within the West Financial institution have been launched and handed over to a group from the Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross, whereas six others have been launched in Jerusalem.
The NGO stated in a press release that the Israeli authorities has imposed a number of situations that prohibit the launched prisoners and their households from chatting with the press, receiving friends at their houses or handing out sweets in the course of the celebration. Those that do not observe the principles could possibly be fined about 70,000 shekels ($18,740), the NGO added.
Though Baker is glad to be dwelling, she informed Al Jazeera that her happiness was incomplete because of the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza.
“I’m in fact very glad, however I really feel devastated at how that deal was reached… at the price of the lives of our brothers and sisters in Gaza.”
Since October 7, greater than 14,800 individuals have been killed within the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. In Israel, the official loss of life toll from Hamas assaults is round 1,200.
Household celebrates return of launched Palestinian prisoner Marah Baker | Israeli-Palestinian Battle Information
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