"No celebrations" for Palestinian family waiting to hear whether their loved one is released
A Palestinian family says there will be “no celebrations” over the potential release of their family member on Friday because of the “high price” of bloodshed in Gaza.
Talal Sayyad is the uncle of Israa Jaabis, who is among the 300 Palestinian women and children listed for possible release from Israeli detention as part of the Israel-Hamas truce agreement. From his home in East Jerusalem, Sayyad spoke of the “muted happiness” he felt over the possibility of his niece being freed.
Thirty-nine Palestinian prisoners are set to be released later Friday as part of the deal between Israel and Hamas, according to an Israeli official, in exchange for the release of an initial group of 13 hostages taken by Hamas.
The Qatari-brokered truce, which began on Friday morning, marks the first sustained break in hostilities after nearly seven weeks, which began when Hamas massacred 1,200 civilians on October 7.
Israel’s ensuing war in Gaza has killed nearly 15,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run health authorities in the enclave.
“We’re talking about 15,000 people killed. Many others injured. Very high price,” Sayyad told CNN. “Of course, we’re happy for our girl. But there will be no celebrations when the blood of martyrs is still being lost.”
His niece, Jaabis, is a 38-year-old woman who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2015 after Israel accused her of attempted murder when her car blew up at a checkpoint, a charge she and her family have continuously denied.
She and her family say she was carrying gas canisters in her car that exploded due to a technical fault. Jaabis sustained first- and third-degree burns on 60% of her body; eight of her fingers were melted to stubs and had to be amputated. Her family said her injuries became worse because she did not receive adequate medical treatment.
“She needed treatment and they prevented her from getting that treatment. They wanted her to suffer,” he said. We’re used to this injustice. It’s not just Israa. Its many other women, and other prisoners today. The whole world can see what’s happening in Gaza right now. We are seeing it on our TVs. But people only see what they want to see," said Sayaad.
The majority of those eligible for release are male Palestinians aged between 16 to 18 – children under the United Nations definition – while a handful are as young as 14. Some 33 people on the list are women, according to a CNN count.
The list includes the ages of the prisoners, and the charges on which they are being held – throwing stones and “harming regional security” are among the most common.
Others are listed as detained for supporting illegal terror organizations, illegal weapons charges, incitement, and at least two accusations of attempted murder.
Some of the people are listed as being members of Hamas and other Islamic militant groups, but many of the prisoners are not listed as belonging to any organization.
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