After spending 22 years in an Israeli prison, Palestinian man Hussein Nassar finally embraced his daughters for the first time. His younger daughter, Ragad, was born after his arrest and had never seen him until now.
Hussein Nassar, a 47-year-old Palestinian, was released under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal amid the Gaza conflict. He was arrested in 2003 for participating in the Second Intifada and spent 22 years behind bars.
Upon his release, his two daughters, 22-year-old Heday and 21-year-old Ragad, eagerly awaited him in Ramallah, wearing traditional red and black Palestinian dresses. Ragad, who was born after his father’s arrest, described the moment as overwhelming.
“This is the first time I will touch him, hug him. I can’t even express my feelings,” she told the BBC before the reunion. “I was in my mother’s womb when the Israelis took him. It feels like I’m about to understand what having a father really means.”
Nassar was among 110 Palestinian prisoners, including women and minors, released in the third phase of the prisoner swap deal. The youngest of them was just 15 years old.
Liberty News’ international correspondent reports that according to Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governor Dr. Laila Abu Ghanam, this mass homecoming was a moment of celebration for Palestinian families.
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