On his first morning of freedom after being launched from Israeli jail, Ubai Youssef Abu Maria wandered round his home checking in together with his dad and mom, as if to verify everybody was there.
That they had all gotten dwelling at daybreak that day, Friday, and regardless that his physique was drained, he was so glad to be dwelling that he solely managed to sleep for 2 hours earlier than he went to his dad and mom’ room and woke them up.
Jokingly, he requested his mom Fidaa, 38, to make him a breakfast he had been dreaming about since October 7: qalayet banadora, a spicy skillet with recent tomatoes, stewed with sizzling Palestinian chili peppers. It was served with the requisite fruity olive oil, particular household recipe zaatar and a cup of candy tea.
As he ate, Ubai instructed his mom that he had eaten nothing however horrible meals for the previous two months. He missed being at dwelling and being cared for.
Then he went to the hairdresser to chop his ‘wild’ hair, which had not been cared for for 2 months. He returned feeling properly and feeling a bit extra regular.
‘I noticed happiness in my father’s eyes’
Ubai Youssef Abu Maria is eighteen years outdated, lives north of Hebron and has been arrested six occasions by Israeli forces. Generally he was held for days, typically for hours. The primary time he was 14 years outdated and was held for 15 days.
A yr later, when he was solely fifteen, he was arrested once more and held for 9 months. The final time he was arrested was on October 8 and he was instructed he can be in administrative detention, a nearly casual standing that ostensibly lasts six months however is commonly prolonged over and over, with the detainee by no means charged or tried.
Every time his dad and mom watched and waited, worrying about their son.
Then this month, a “humanitarian pause” was declared between Israel and Hamas, with a prisoner-for-prisoner change a part of the deal. Hope rose and Ubai’s dad and mom Fidaa and Youssef started to organize in case Ubai was launched.
He was finally among the many seventh and remaining group of Palestinian prisoners launched from Israeli detention on Thursday.
“I noticed the happiness in my father’s eyes,” Ubai stated. “For us, we’re extra mates than father and son, and I look as much as him as a job mannequin.
“He was apprehensive about me throughout detention, particularly due to my injured arm.”
Ubai was shot within the elbow by Israeli forces final November, inflicting him to lose 70 % of his arm. He had undergone post-operative therapy, however his arrest only a month after the platinum pins had been faraway from his elbow minimize so quick.
“I instructed the Israelis time and again that my arm was injured. They did not care, the truth is it appeared to amuse them to chain my fingers anyway,” Ubai stated.
“Even the jail physician laughed at me once I requested for medication. I believed this man is a jail guard in a physician’s coat. They solely gave me Acamol [paracetamol] as soon as. That was it.
“I’m glad that I can now proceed my therapy. I am dwelling and I can see my household and be with them. There aren’t any phrases to explain this pleasure.”
First phrases, first hugs
When Ubai entered the home at daybreak on Friday, Fidaa was initially stunned.
“I saved him, backed away and thought in disbelief, ‘That is not my boy.’ He appeared so totally different, not the wholesome boy he was, he had misplaced a lot weight, he appeared so exhausted, pores and skin and bones with huge messy hair on them.
“I cried, out of pleasure I feel, I do not know. My first phrases to him had been, “How’s your arm?” Transfer it, present me what it is like. ”
Ubai’s first phrases to his mom had been sweeter, as he hugged her, instructed her he missed her and referred to as her “My life,” an Arabic time period of endearment he makes use of for her.
Shortly afterwards, in fact, he needed to present her that his arm was nonetheless cell. As for his father, he had greeted him with “My Crown,” which is a cross between a time period of endearment and “boss.”
After a breakfast match for a king and a visit to the hairdresser, Ubai’s home crammed up with household and mates who came visiting and welcome him. A lot that he could not get his favourite meal at lunch, put zucchini in yogurt sauce and needed to accept the promise that he may get it on Saturday.
Reunions with family members had been greater than sufficient to make up for any culinary disappointments, nevertheless, and Ubai spoke fondly to Al Jazeera about seeing his childhood buddy, Mahdi Hammad, as he stepped out of the jail transport automobile that took him from Ofer Jail to Ramallah. “He took me to my father and household. That they had been ready for me for ten hours once I received there at two within the morning.
“I am unable to describe seeing them once more, it is a mixture of pleasure and disappointment. Pleased with the nice and cozy hugs I got here again to and in tears about what is occurring to Gaza, the merciless tax that resulted within the launch of Palestinian prisoners. I could not consider I’d be a part of the deal.”
Humiliation and ache in jail
After Operation Aqsa Storm, the therapy of Palestinian prisoners turned worse than ever, Ubai stated. All tv entry was minimize off after which all tools, blankets and spare clothes had been faraway from the cells.
“The jail guards punished us severely, as in the event that they had been taking out their October 7 humiliation on us,” he instructed Al Jazeera, including that guards stormed the cells a number of occasions a day, beating, frisking and making an attempt to humiliate prisoners.
“We weren’t allowed to boost our heads or look them within the eye. If anybody did that, they’d be severely crushed and positioned in solitary confinement the place they’d be attacked once more, out of sight.”
The day Ubai was launched, he was chained at 7 a.m. and led from his cell in Nafha jail to the jail’s ‘bosta’ transport automobile, which was utterly darkish inside and divided into a number of cramped cells with metallic seats in it, however he was unable to sit down on that experience to Ofer jail close to Ramallah.
As soon as there, Ubai was held in a cell, as different prisoners have indicated. This time it was freezing contemplating the time of yr.
“I did not have sufficient garments to maintain heat, they confiscated all my belongings and stayed like that for about six hours. I felt my limbs freezing, particularly my injured left arm, and the entire time I had no thought what this was all for, nobody had instructed me what was occurring.
“Then a Shin Wager officer stormed into the cell and instructed me I used to be leaving jail, however he additionally shouted and threatened me, saying I couldn’t have a good time, carry resistance flags, obtain well-wishers or do any political exercise was allowed to follow. . “You will be arrested once more,” he stated.
Fidaa sat subsequent to Ubai, with a beaming smile on her face. But it surely masked a deeper disappointment, she stated. “As Palestinian moms, we can’t maintain our youngsters indoors on a regular basis to guard them from what the occupation can do to them. They’re in fixed hazard of being harassed, detained, injured or, worse, killed by the blind bullets of the occupation.
‘And have a look at him! He is again, however he suffered a lot in jail. The tales of what occurred to him and different prisoners there are horrific, and the tales of what’s occurring to the individuals of Gaza are heartbreaking.”
For now, Ubai can give attention to his interest that he hopes to show right into a profession: automotive electrical energy. So he plans to finish the therapy his arm wants after which work on changing into an auto electrician. However first spend extra time together with his household.
“Ubai is my buddy, companion and assist… Once I noticed him, it was as if he had been reborn,” Youssef stated via tears as he hugged Ubai tightly.
