The dean of prisoners in the Gaza Strip, Diaa Al-Agha, returned to his city of Khan Yunis in Gaza, embracing freedom. This is the city he left as a 17-year-old child, and now, with the start of the blessed month of Ramadan, he will sit at his mother Najah's table for the first time in 33 years, after spending that time in Israeli occupation prisons.
اضافة اعلان
The long years of imprisonment did not break Diaa’s (50 years old) resolve, nor did they extinguish his mother’s longing. Despite her illness, the harshness of the years, and the pain of separation inside the prisons, she continued to wait for the moment to embrace her son.
Diaa describes the moment he tasted freedom as one of unmatched joy, feeling as though he had been born anew, especially considering the tragic and harsh conditions he endured during his imprisonment.
He says, "During the aggression on Gaza, we endured severe torture, were deprived of food, drink, and medical treatment. The period of the aggression felt like all the years of my imprisonment combined, due to the intense humiliation the prisoners endured."
He added that the prison authorities gave the suppression units free rein to torment the prisoners, depriving them of basic human rights, including sleep and food. This also included frequent raids of cells and violent assaults, especially against prisoners from Gaza and those detained during the aggression.
He continued, "I left the prison but left behind thousands of prisoners suffering from the harsh measures of the prison authorities, which became more severe and violent after the aggression on Gaza. I will never forget them, as I spent years of my life with them. Therefore, my joy at my freedom is incomplete and mixed with much pain. It will not be whole until all prisons are emptied."
The actions of the occupation authorities against the prisoners escalated after the aggression. They deliberately provided food that was barely enough to keep the prisoners alive, less than half of what had been offered before the aggression. This led to a deterioration in the health of the prisoners due to malnutrition and intentional neglect, a condition that became evident in the appearance of any prisoner released, as they were significantly weakened.
Najah, Diaa’s mother, feared that she would die without seeing her son free. His father passed away in 2005 while Diaa was still in prison, and he was unable to say goodbye. Her anxiety increased last week as she awaited his release, only to be surprised by the occupation’s obstruction of the scheduled release of prisoners, which worsened her health due to the immense grief and sorrow.
Najah says, "Diaa was born again when he was released at the age of 50. This joy is indescribable, especially with the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan, which we haven’t shared together for 33 years."
She adds, "There were many times when I was denied visiting him in prison, especially since he spent long periods in solitary confinement and was moved between various prisons throughout his years of incarceration."
Najah points out that she traveled around the world as part of Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs delegation to participate in events supporting prisoners and to raise awareness about her son Diaa and his comrades in Israeli prisons. She never missed participating in weekly sit-ins in front of the International Red Cross headquarters, and she will continue to support them and advocate for their freedom as long as she is alive.
It is noted that 456 prisoners were released early Thursday as part of the seventh batch of the ceasefire agreement. They all arrived at the European Gaza Hospital, showing signs of severe exhaustion from the conditions they faced in Israeli prisons throughout their incarceration.
Currently, more than 10,000 prisoners remain in Israeli occupation prisons, not including those detained from Gaza in the occupation's military camps. Additionally, 58 prisoners have been martyred in Israeli prisons since the aggression against the Palestinian people began last October.
WAFA
