The Israeli occupation is doing all it can in a bid to prevent any “public displays of joy” when Palestinian prisoners are released as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal which took effect on Sunday morning.
Israeli Prison Service will handle the transport of the Palestinian prisoners, unlike the prisoner exchange which took place in November 2023, when they were transported by buses of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Palestinian resistance in Gaza released last night a group of Israeli hostages as part of the swap deal pic.twitter.com/pFJnN1PiUe
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) November 30, 2023
“The commissioner of the Israel Prison Service, Major General Kobi Yakobi, instructed that.. to prevent public displays of joy in Ashkelon and other areas of Israel, the escort from ‘Shikma’ Prison will not be handled by civilian buses of the (International Committee of the) Red Cross,” a statement by the Israeli Prison Service read last Friday.
Moreover, the Palestinian prisoners will be transported in buses with tinted windows in a bid to avoid public celebratory displays, Israeli media reported.
On the other hand, Palestinian media reported late on Saturday that the Israeli occupation was pressing families of the Palestinian prisoners in occupied Al-Quds to halt all kinds of celebrations.
Repressive measures to prevent Palestinian displays of joy are being systematically employed by the Israeli occupation in a bid to suppress any expressions of victory or resilience by the freed prisoners, their families, and the broader population.
It’s quite clear that the Israeli occupation is being disturbed by a victory sign that could be raised during the implementation of the swap deal.
This is ‘Israel’. It fears even the smile of a released prisoner as it symbolizes Palestine’s resistance, defiance, and the unyielding spirit of a struggle for freedom and justice.
The Zionist entity understands that freed prisoners often emerge as powerful symbols of perseverance, inspiring others to resist oppression and exposing the occupation’s inability to crush the will of the oppressed. Their stories, experiences, and presence challenge the Israeli occupation’s narrative.
Like any occupation entity, this fear stems from the understanding that the prisoners as well as anyone who stands against oppression are not just opponents—they are catalysts for a larger movement that threatens the occupation’s grip on power. Their ability to mobilize, unify, and resist in the face of systemic repression demonstrates the fragility of the occupation’s authority and exposes the enduring power of collective resistance.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
