A Palestinian man, Diaa Al-Agha, has finally reunited with his mother after spending 33 years in an Israeli prison. Arrested at the age of 17, Al-Agha, now with grey hair and decades of hardship behind him, returned home to an emotional welcome.
According to reports, Al-Agha was detained by Israeli occupation forces for allegedly killing a Mossad intelligence officer and was sentenced to 99 years of life imprisonment. A poignant video circulating online captures the moment his loved ones lifted him up and carried him to his mother, who tearfully embraced and kissed her son after decades of separation.
Ongoing Plight of Palestinian Prisoners
The release of Al-Agha sheds light on the dire conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention. Many endure long sentences without proper legal defense and report experiencing brutal torture.
Recently, several prisoners released by Israel under a ceasefire agreement with Hamas have shown signs of severe mistreatment, including malnutrition and physical abuse, further exposing the harsh realities of their imprisonment.
On Thursday, Israel freed 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of the exchange, while Hamas handed over four bodies of Israeli detainees. Among those released were 22 minors and one woman. Of the 600 captives, 151 were serving life sentences. However, 97 of them were exiled instead of being allowed to return home.
Escalation in the West Bank
Meanwhile, violence continues to escalate in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli military has killed 16-year-old Hamid Fadl Muwafi near the separation wall in Qalqilya.
Under “Operation Iron Wall,” Israeli forces have forced at least 40,000 Palestinians to evacuate from four refugee camps—Tulkarm, Nur Shams, Jenin, and Far’a—in northern West Bank. This marks the first time in history that these refugee camps, originally established during the Nakba in the 1950s, have been entirely evacuated.
The situation remains tense as the humanitarian crisis in the region deepens.
