Prominent Palestinian activist Khalida Jarrar was among the 90 detainees released on Sunday as part of a prisoner exchange under the newly implemented ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Jarrar, a leading figure in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), had been held in administrative detention since December 2023 on allegations of supporting terrorism.
Videos of her release show Jarrar being welcomed by jubilant relatives, including her husband Ghassan Jarrar and daughter Yafa Jarrar. After 15 months of imprisonment, including five months in solitary confinement in a small, stifling cell, Jarrar appeared visibly unwell.
“The conditions were dire,” said a representative from the Palestinian Prisoners Club. “She was placed under administrative detention, which was extended multiple times, and was moved to solitary confinement in August as a form of punishment.”
During her detention, Jarrar’s family endured immense hardship. Her father, daughter, and nephew passed away while she was behind bars, and Israeli authorities denied her permission to attend their funerals.
Jarrar’s incarceration at Neve Tirza prison in Ramla drew widespread criticism for its overcrowded conditions and excessive use of solitary confinement. Reports described her cell as severely lacking in ventilation, forcing her to lie on the floor to breathe through a crack beneath the door. The high temperatures, lack of proper bedding, and restricted access to food and water exacerbated her health issues, which include hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol problems.
Jarrar’s political career has been marked by her advocacy for Palestinian rights and her role in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). She was instrumental in Palestine’s accession to the International Criminal Court in 2015 and has been a staunch advocate for the rights of Palestinian prisoners.
Over the past three decades, Jarrar has faced multiple arrests, often under administrative detention—a policy allowing Israeli authorities to detain individuals without charge or trial. Her activism began in 1989 when she was first arrested after participating in a demonstration on International Women’s Day.
Jarrar’s release marks the beginning of a larger prisoner exchange, with over 1,000 Palestinian detainees expected to be freed in return for 33 Israeli captives held in Gaza. Currently, more than 10,400 Palestinians remain imprisoned in Israeli facilities, while Hamas holds around 96 Israeli prisoners in Gaza.
The release of detainees, particularly women and minors, is seen as a significant step in the ongoing efforts to stabilize the region amidst a fraught and complex conflict.
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