(15 Feb 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beitunia, West Bank – 15 February 2025
1. Various of minibus carrying released Palestinian prisoners arriving at crowd waiting for them
2. Released prisoners leaving bus
3. Released prisoners being helped by well-wishers through crowd
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hassan Awis, released prisoner:
"It’s an indescribable feeling mixed with pain and joy as I left my two brothers and I left other prisoners in prison. God willing, the joy will be complete with the release of all the prisoners."
5. Well-wishers and family members greeting Awis
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Om Bashar (nickname), mother of released prisoner Hassan Awis:
"Today is the best day in the world. Today I was born again. I was dead before. I had no life without my children. When I saw my son, my soul came back to me again and I came back to life."
7. Various of released prisoner Mwsa Sarahneh being helped by medical staff through crowds to waiting ambulances
8. Ambulance driving away
9. Released prisoner Ibrahheem Sarahneh walking with medical staff
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ibrahheem Sarahneh, released prisoner:
"The conditions of detention are more difficult than you expect. In short, the conditions are difficult. There is beating, insults, cursing, and everything you would not imagine."
11. Amani al-Khandaqji, sister of prisoner Bassem al-Khandaqji, walking with her children
12. Close of photo of Bassem al-Khandaqji on shirt
13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Amani al-Khandaqji, sister of prisoner Bassem al-Khandaqji:
"My brother is still in Rimon prison, sentenced to three life sentences, and his name is not included in this batch, but every time there is a release of prisoners, I come to receive the prisoners and to experience the joy and to share with them this feeling, since many of them have been released from the prison of Rimon, where my brother is. I ask about him to check on his situation and the situation of the other prisoners who are there as well, and thus I experience the joy, which is in reality mixed with pain and blood that was the price of their freedom, and this is a very high price. Therefore, no matter what we say, we cannot find words to express our feelings towards our people in Gaza and towards the steadfast resistance in Gaza, which liberated our children, as they promised and kept their promise."
14. Amani al-Khandaqji offering coffee to well-wishers
15. Various of released prisoners leaving bus
STORYLINE:
Israel released 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees on Saturday in the latest exchange for Israeli hostages captured by Hamas, as the fragile ceasefire held after a standoff over aid deliveries.
Israel views the prisoners being released as terrorists.
Palestinians see them as freedom fighters resisting a decadeslong Israeli military occupation.
Nearly every Palestinian has a friend or family member who has been jailed by Israel, for militant attacks or lesser offenses such as rock-throwing, protesting or membership in a banned political group.
Some are incarcerated for months or years without trial in what is known as administrative detention.
Among those released on Saturday, 36 had been sentenced to life for their involvement in deadly attacks against Israelis.
Only 12 of them have been allowed to return to their homes in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, where their families and supporters mobbed the Red Cross minibus, chanting “God is greatest” and cheering.
Palestinian medics said four were taken straight to the hospital for urgent care.
AP video shot by Amer Abdeen
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/88525ead94724216a091aba248cf9ff4
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in February 20, 2025, 3:04 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
