(23 Feb 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip – 23 February 2025
1. Various of relatives of prisoners watching TV in cafe
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Najah Zaqqot, mother of prisoner:
"We came yesterday. We were happy with an indescribable joy. What have they done? What have the prisoners done? We don’t know what happened. They killed our joy. We don’t know what to do. Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs (a phrase used to express grief and reliance on God for justice).”
3. Various of relatives of prisoners
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khitam Abu Qamar, her husband and sons are imprisoned in Israel:
"I have four prisoners: my three sons and my husband. My husband’s name appeared (in the list of those to be released). I came here yesterday to wait for their release. We were happy despite the cold, and all difficulties that we endured on the road to arrive here and to receive them. They haven’t been released yet. The deal has faced a setback and they haven’t been released."
5. Various of relatives of prisoners sleeping
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hussein Mousa, brother of prisoner:
"This was a tough decision (Netanyahu’s decision to delay the release of Palestinian prisoners). Hamas handed over the captives in time, why he (Netanyahu) didn’t release them in time? Why does he want to keep us waiting? Waiting is very difficult. I can’t express (the feeling), families keep calling and we don’t know what to tell them. I stopped answering phone calls. We were happy that we will return home with them on Saturday."
7. Various of relatives of prisoners
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdallah Shrafi, relative of prisoner:
"I feel very upset. I came and was happy that I will see my beloved after a long time. The situation has changed and we are heartbroken."
9. Various of relatives of prisoners waiting
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Basel Jomaa, relative of prisoner:
"We have been waiting since yesterday morning. The weather was very cold last night, and there was rain. We slept in the cars. When the news came that the deal was delayed, we were shocked."
11. Various of relatives of prisoners
STORYLINE:
Israel’s delay of the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners has stunned Palestinians waiting in cold weather in war-torn Gaza for the freedom of their relatives.
Crowds flocked to the European Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis where hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were scheduled to arrive on Saturday after Hamas released six hostages.
More than 600 Palestinian prisoners were expected to walk free, but Israel delayed their release “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies” at handovers of Israeli captives in Gaza.
The news stunned many Palestinians who waited in a coffee shop close to the European hospital.
They spent their cold and rainy night in their vehicles, hoping that Israel would release their relatives.
“We were happy despite the cold,” said Khitam Abu Qamar, a Palestinian woman whose three sons and husband were detained by Israel.
She said her husband was listed to be released on Saturday.
"The deal has faced a setback and they haven’t been released."
"Hamas handed over the captives in time, why he (Netanyahu) didn’t release them in time? Why does he want to keep us waiting?" asked Hussein Mousa, who was waiting for his brother.
Basel Jomaa, a relative of a prisoner, spent the night in his car and was still waiting for Israel to release the prisoners Sunday.
"When the news came that the deal was delayed, we were shocked," he said.
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