From Prison to Ruins: Gaza Welcomes Heroes Who Have Lost Everything

Palestinians return to their homes after years of detention [Getty] [source: GazaMedia]

# Internasional

Dozens of Palestinians arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday (10/13/2025) after being released from Israeli prisons in a prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel. Their arrival was greeted with emotion by residents waiting at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, carrying photos and Palestinian flags. Many of the prisoners had been held for years in Israeli prisons and underwent health checks immediately upon arrival in Gaza.

Heartwarming stories emerged from the families, such as Umm Mahmoud Abu Oweida, who was finally able to hug her son after 17 months without news, and Huda Abu Ali, who had waited eight years. However, most returned to homes that had been destroyed by the war. Abu Khaled al-Nuwairi, for example, lost his wife and four children when his house was bombed, while his son was only released after being arrested while helping the wounded.

This agreement is part of a ceasefire that ended two years of Israeli airstrikes since 2023, which killed more than 67,000 people. A total of 1,968 prisoners were released, including 250 who were sentenced to life imprisonment and more than 150 who were deported. This is the largest prisoner exchange since 2011.

The Gaza government called the release an important step toward ending the suffering of Palestinians in Israeli prisons and urged the international community to continue pressuring Israel. Meanwhile, the Al-Qassam Brigades considered the agreement a victory for the Palestinian people because Israel was forced to negotiate.

Although welcomed with joy, observers believe that this agreement is also fraught with political interests. The United States is said to want to shift the Gaza issue to the realm of regional security, while Hamas is taking advantage of this momentum to restore its legitimacy amid the devastation experienced by Gaza.

Views: 95 Likes: 1 Shares: 0

Source: Gaza Media

1

Komentar:

Kembali ke Berita Utama