Palestine on Lock:
Israeli Occupation
From the walls of an Israeli prison to the imprisoning air of Israeli occupation in Gaza.
On the night before their release, Palestinian prisoners put their clothes, toothbrushes, and photo albums into plastic bags as they prepare to finally see the sun and their family members' faces after spending years in Israeli jails. The next day, some of them did see the face of the sun, but not the faces of their families.
On October 18, 2011, 1,027 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli occupation prisons in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was taken by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza in 2006.
Many prisoner exchange deals have been achieved between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli occupation forces. Palestinian prisoners are released in exchange for the simultaneous release of Israeli soldiers. Among these famous deals is the Wafa al-Ahrar deal, which was sponsored by Egypt and the international community.
On October 18, 2011, 1,027 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli occupation prisons in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was taken by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza in 2006.
Israeli occupation forces exiled a number of the prisoners. 18 of them have been sentenced to a three-year-long exile, while 160 prisoners have been permanently exiled to Gaza. 40 detainees have also been sent to other countries, such as Jordan, Syria, and Turkey.
Divorce despite love
Shuaib Abu Snina was kidnapped and sentenced to life imprisonment for 99 years by Israeli occupation forces on Oct. 25, 1998.
After spending 13 years in prison, Shuiab was among the prisoners to be released in Wafa al-Ahrar. But he was also among the prisoners exiled to Gaza.
Shuaib was devastated that the faces of his children, Sumira, Mimona, Khaled, and Qtayiba, and his wife, Manal, would not be the first things he would see after being freed.
Manal managed to meet her husband after trying several times. She visited Gaza three times, returning to Jerusalem to take care of her children in between each visit. Every time she visited Gaza, she faced harassment and inspections by the Israeli occupation forces.
Shuaib reported that Manal gave birth to a child named Mou'taz in 2012. Israeli occupation refused to issue his birth certificate for 10 months. The occupation also prevented the family from traveling back to Gaza. "Israeli forces detained Manal and raided our house and stole the money that I sent for my children," he said.
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When Israel imprisons a Palestinian, it imprisons their whole family
Shaban Hassouna was one of the 1,027 Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for an Israeli soldier in 2011. But when he returned to find Gaza transformed into an open-air prison, he soon realized neither he—nor his family—would ever be truly free.
"After several arrests and home raids in the Silwan neighborhood of Jerusalem, the Israeli occupation told Khalid, my eldest son, that they 'will not deal with your [family] as citizens with rights in Jerusalem unless your father divorces your mother,'" Shuaib explained.
With a lump in his throat and a voice full of sadness, Shuaib said: " I was forced to go to court in Gaza and divorce my wife in a sham divorce, but the occupation returned the divorce document. I was compelled to formally divorce my wife."
He divorced his wife because he loves her, and he wants his family to live as citizens with rights.
"After more than 30 years of patience, is this the reward for her kindness?" he lamented.
Forbidden Connection
"When I found out that I would be exiled to Gaza, I had the most heartbreaking day of my life," Nasser Elshqirat said.
Elshqirat explained that he had been kidnapped by Israeli forces twice. The first time was in 1990, and he was released from prison in 1992. In 1993, he was arrested again by Israeli occupation forces and sentenced to 82 years in prison for his involvement in resistance activities.
Elshqirat was watching a terrestrial broadcast on the Al-Aqsa TV channel with other prisoners when he heard his name listed among the prisoners who would be released in the 2011 Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner exchange deal. He was shocked to find out that he was included among those exiled to Gaza.
"It was the hardest feeling I have ever experienced in my life. I wept and thought deeply about staying inside the prison because I wanted to return to the arms of my family and my hometown of Jabal Al-Mukaber in Jerusalem. In addition to that, my cousin's son was with me in the same room, and his name was not on the list of prisoners released," Elshqirat said, choking back tears.
Aymen Alsharwna was one of the freed prisoners in the Wafa al-Ahrar exchange deal after spending 11 years in Israeli jails. But after just 80 days of being free, the Israeli occupation rearrested him.
He added, "All the prisoners know that the Israeli occupation exiled us to Gaza because they want to prevent us from continuing the path of freedom fighting. They transferred us to a bigger prison."
When Elshqirat's family asked where they should receive him, he had to tell them he was being sent to Gaza instead of his home. However, the people of Gaza received him warmly and treated him kindly.
"My father and mother tried many times to visit me in Gaza, but were only allowed to spend a short time with me after seven months of my release. This did not extinguish the flame of longing I had for them," Elshqirat explained. "I use the internet to contact my family members. I hope that I can see their faces one day."
Elshqirat knows that the Israeli occupation monitors all phone calls between the prisoners and their relatives. He revealed that his brother Ziad was arrested and sentenced to three years because they spoke on the phone about family and general matters.
"The Israeli forces have summoned my sister for questioning, and she has been detained multiple times on the same grounds that my brother was detained for," Elshqirat stated.
However, Naser Elshqirat is determined to stay in contact with his family, despite the risks involved.
Scattered Family
Aymen Alsharwna was one of the freed prisoners in the Wafa al-Ahrar exchange deal after spending 11 years in Israeli jails. But after just 80 days of being free, the Israeli occupation rearrested him. He participated in a hunger strike for 261 days and afterwards, Israeli occupation forces freed him once again. Then, Aymen was exiled to Gaza.
Aymen reported that Gaza is besieged from all sides and is one of the harshest places in the world—which is why the Israeli occupation chose to exile them there. Still, Aymen says that "any place is better than prison." He also notes that the people in Gaza are "very kind and treat [him] well."
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"I have four daughters and five sons, and I am sad because the Israeli occupation did not allow for all of them to visit Gaza," Aymen said.
While he was imprisoned, his mother passed away. Aymen did not get to attend his mother's funeral. His daughters and sons got married, and he did not get to attend their wedding parties. They had children, and he did not get to see them. He dreams that one day he will be able to live with his sons and daughters again and "hug and kiss" his grandchildren.
"Israeli occupation forces moved me from its small prison to a bigger prison they made in Gaza."