Khan Younis, Gaza – Over the previous week, Najat al-Agha went from the happiest she’s ever been to wailing in heartbreak as she heard that her son, who was amongst 620 Palestinian prisoners meant to be launched on Saturday, wouldn’t be launched.
Diaa Al-Agha, who was arrested for killing an Israeli officer when he was 16, has been in jail for almost 33 years, the longest-serving prisoner from Gaza in Israeli jails.
Seventy-five-year-old Najat has waited for Diaa since he was taken on October 10, 1992. She has campaigned, participated in sit-ins, spoken at conferences, and have become one of the well-known faces amongst prisoners’ households.
“Oh, my son, I waited for this second for 33 years, and it vanished earlier than my eyes,” she wept.
Destroying a fragile hope
Najat will not be the one individual crushed by Israel’s choice to not launch 620 Palestinian prisoners, regardless of that being a part of a ceasefire deal between it and Hamas in Gaza.
On Saturday, Hamas handed over six captives taken from Israel in October 2023 and Israel was speculated to launch 620 individuals it had detained at completely different occasions.
Nevertheless it determined to not, claiming the handover ceremony for the six captives had been “provocative” and so it could halt prisoner releases.
“Once they advised us there could be no launch, I collapsed, screaming: ‘Why? Why?’
“Then I misplaced consciousness.”
That morning, Najat, her son Mohammed, his spouse and youngsters, and her daughter Ola together with her youngsters, received on Salah al-Din Road to attempt to attain Khan Younis the place the discharge was anticipated. That they had been displaced for a lot of the struggle.
Salah al-Din is the one road Israel permits vehicles to make use of.
“I stored pleading with the motive force: ‘Please, son, hurry up,’” she says.
“He might solely reply: ‘It’s out of my palms, mom, have a look at the visitors.’”
It took greater than an hour to succeed in their devastated dwelling in Khan Younis, which Israel had shelled in November 2023 throughout its assault on Gaza. The journey is roughly 24km (15 miles).
Relations, neighbours, and buddies had gathered on the home to have fun Diaa’s impending launch.
“I used to be embracing individuals, barely believing I used to be lastly listening to these phrases after 33 years,” Najat says.
A few of the moms of different prisoners urged her to put on the embroidered attire she had ready for Diaa’s homecoming.
“All of them knew [about the dresses] however they had been misplaced when my dwelling was destroyed [by Israel],” she sighed.
Fragile hope rising
When Najat heard that Israel had lastly agreed to launch Diaa amongst Saturday’s batch, her “coronary heart almost burst with pleasure”, she recalled wearily.
“I had dreamt of this present day for therefore lengthy,” she continues, tears streaming down her face. “For 33 years, I feared I might not stay to see my son free.”
However she clings to her hope. “In just some days, he can be in my arms,” she whispers, as if keen the dream into actuality.
Diaa al-Agha
Diaa’s identify has come up for inclusion in previous prisoner exchanges, with Israel refusing, citing his crime.
A member of the Fatah motion from the age of 13, Diaa started taking part in armed operations at age 16.
Now, he suffers from well being points that have an effect on his bones and digestive system, but has been denied correct medical therapy, based on his mom.
Najat has waited and prayed for different males in her household who had been detained earlier than.
Her husband, Zakaria, was arrested in 1973 on costs of belonging to resistance teams and spent two years in Israeli custody. He died in 2005, after a stroke she says he had due to his sorrow over seeing Diaa in jail the day earlier than.
Her eldest son, Azzam, was detained in 1990 for belonging to a “designated terrorist navy wing” and spent 4 years in jail, whereas Mohammed served 12 years, charged with intentionally taking pictures at Israeli troopers.
Every time, Najat waited, counting the times and visiting when she might.
She additionally stored visiting Diaa, regardless of being denied entry typically.
“However I think about myself fortunate as a result of the final time I noticed him was only a month earlier than the struggle on Gaza. He was in good well being and spirits,” she says.
‘Are we simply pawns?’
Standing there ready for Diaa’s launch, Najat went via worry, anticipation, and hope.
“I stored imagining how he could be introduced out – his palms and ft shackled on this bitter chilly,” she stated.
“I do know the Israeli jail guards benefit from humiliating prisoners of their remaining moments earlier than launch,” she stated shakily. “That crammed me with dread.”
However she additionally imagined spending her first Ramadan in 33 years with him.
“I imagined myself getting ready his favorite meals – I wouldn’t let anybody else cook dinner. I need to make up for all of the years we had been stored aside.”
The considered leaving with out him that evening didn’t cross her thoughts – till it did.
“I noticed individuals crying, whispering. My youngsters huddled collectively, and I heard: ‘No, not as we speak.’
“I grabbed my daughter Ola: ‘Inform me what’s taking place. What does ‘no’ imply?’”
Her youngsters tried to calm her, assuring her it was only a delay. However the world round her blurred, as she put it.
“I didn’t need to hear anybody. I didn’t need to speak. I simply screamed in protest till the whole lot went darkish.
“Are we simply pawns to them?” she cried. “Thirty-three years of ready – isn’t that sufficient?
“I’ll see my son free, hopefully very quickly,” she says, her voice resolute. “I’ve waited 33 years, I’ll wait just a little longer.”
