“I’m very happy now beside my family,” newly freed prisoner says at Gaza rally

26th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Marco Varasio | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

On Monday morning, relatives and friends of Palestinian detainees, as well as Palestinian and solidarity activists, rallied at the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Gaza office to demonstrate their support of the Palestinian prisoners.

Families and supporters of Palestinian detainees sit in the Gaza Red Cross. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)
Families and supporters of Palestinian detainees sit in the Gaza Red Cross. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)

The rally started with the chanting of slogan about the need of freedom for the Palestinian prisoners.

Omar Massoud greets Um Ibrahim Baroud, a co-founder of Gaza’s Monday protest for detainees, and other supporters outside his home in Gaza's al-Shati ("Beach") refugee camp on 31 October. (Photo by Gal·la López)
Omar Massoud greets Um Ibrahim Baroud, a co-founder of Gaza’s Monday protest for detainees, and other supporters outside his home in Gaza’s al-Shati (“Beach”) refugee camp on 31 October. (Photo by Gal·la López)

Omar Massoud, an ex-Palestinian prisoner released earlier this month after more than 20 years in Israeli jails, attended the rally this week. “Life in Israeli jail is very hard, but we don’t care,” he said. “Freedom is more important. I’m very happy now beside my family and I hope all Palestinian prisoners will get their freedom as soon as possible.”

A rally organized by the Wa’ed Society took place outside, with women and political representatives speaking.

Like every Monday, all attenders asked for the liberation of Palestinian political prisoners detained in the Israeli jails.