Relief, sadness for families of Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons in Gaza hostage deal
24 Palestinian women, 15 teens released in hostage exchange with Israel
For the families of Palestinian detainees freed by Israel under a hostage deal reached with the Islamist group Hamas, Friday brought relief tinged with sadness at the fighting that is set to continue in Gaza after the expiry of a four-day truce.
Thirty-nine Palestinians 24women and 15minors held in Israeli prisons on various charges were freed under an accord brokered by Qatar that also saw the release of 13 Israeli hostages among the 240 seized by Hamas gunmen during their assault on Israel on Oct. 7.
In at least three cases, before the Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons were released, Israeli police raided their families' homes in Jerusalem, witnesses said. Israeli police declined to comment.
"There is no real joy, even this little joy we feel as we wait," said Sawsan Bakir, the mother of 24-year-old Palestinian Marah Bakir, who was jailed for eight years on knife and assault charges in 2015. Israeli police were seen raiding her Jerusalem home before her daughter was released.
"We are still afraid to feel happy, and at the same time, we do not have it in us to be happy due to what is happening in Gaza," she said.
In all, 50 hostages in Gaza and 150 detainees in Israel are expected to be freed during a four-day truce. Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day.
TenThai citizens and one from the Philippines who have been held hostagein Gaza since last month were alsoreleased on Friday. Qatar's Foreign Affairs Ministry said that development involving the Asian hostages was separate from the numbers agreed to in the truce between Israel and Hamas, which was mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
In Beitunia, a city near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, a large crowd, mostly of young men, greeted freed detainees by cheering, honking car horns and marching in the street carrying Palestinian flags.
Some in the crowd also carried the flag of the Hamas militant group that rules blockaded Gaza and chanted in support of Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson of the group's armed wing.
"I can't express how I feel. Thank God," said 17-year-old Laith Othman, who was detained earlier this year on suspicion of throwing an incendiary device and released on Friday. "The situation inside [the Israeli prison]is very difficult," he said as he was carried along the street on someone's shoulders.
Israeli commanders have vowed to free all of the hostages as they prepare to pursue the campaign in Gaza launched in the wake of the Hamas attack, in which 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were killed, according to Israeli tallies.
More than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and the ground operation launched last month, according to the territory's Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Israel's military says it is preparing for the next stage of the operation once the truce ends.
Ismail Shaheen, speaking from the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, said he was waiting to see his daughter, Fatima, who was arrested earlier this year, accused of an attempted stabbing.
The 32-year-old computer scientist, who has a five-year-old daughter, was shot during her arrest. Shaheen said he was surprised to see his daughter in a wheelchair when he was first allowed to visit her in prison, months after she was detained.
"Thank God she was released in this exchange deal," he said. "We were happy that she was going to be released but only slightly so, because we cannot ignore the dire conditions of our brothers in Gaza, where thousands have been killed."
Families left waiting for loved ones' release
The long wait is not over for many other Palestinian families who were hoping their loved ones would be released on Friday.
IbrahimAwwad'sdaughter,Nourhan,is on the list of Palestinians who may be released from Israeli prisons as part of the exchange agreement.
He hasn't seen hersince 2015,when she was16 years old,whenIsraeli authorities arrested her in connection with a stabbing attack at an Israeli checkpoint.
According to thePalestinian Prisoners Solidarity Network, she was convicted and sentenced to 13.5 yearsin prison.
Awwadspoke toCBCNews in theQalandiyarefugee camp, in the occupied West Bank, prior to Israel's release of Palestiniandetainees on Friday evening.
He said he'll be relieved when she comes home, butit won't be a celebration.
"We decided not to celebrate because of the circumstances, because of the war," he said."But thereshould be some rejoicing. There should be some happiness at the return of this child."
Awwad said he gives credit for her release to Palestinianresistancefactions, though he did not name one specific group.
"We've had prisoners in Israeli jails for the last 40 years. Some of their people have been hostages just for the last 40 days, and the whole world is talking about them," he toldCBCNewssenior international correspondentMargaret Evans.
"We have the right, just like them, to free our people. We have mothers just like them; wehave families just like them."
With files from CBC News
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