As soon as he breathed freedom after 23 years spent in the occupation prisons, the steps of prisoner Islam Washahi led him to the grave of his father who died ten years ago after he was denied the right to visit him in prison, and the son was prevented from taking a last farewell look at his father with whom he had a close relationship.

The prisoner, Islam Yasser Muhammad Washahi, was unable to go to his family’s house, who were waiting for him with his relatives and loved ones in the village of Al-Basha, south of Jenin, before he stood near his father’s grave, tears streaming down his eyes.

In his first press interview after his freedom, he told “Y”: “This is the most difficult moment in my life after years of patience, the loss and absence of my father who waited for me and wished for me to return to his arms. Before his death, the jailer deprived me of seeing him and prevented me from receiving visits.”

He added, "My only consolation and what eases my pain is that God will unite us with him in the gardens of bliss, God willing. What is painful is that due to his illness he was not able to visit me for four years, and I expected his death before my freedom because his health condition was difficult."

The occupation forces arrested Islam Washahi in a special operation from the town of Barta’a on 22-22-2002. He served his 19-year sentence, but the occupation added 10 more years to his sentence, on charges of stabbing an Israeli prison guard in the Negev prison.

Washahi said, "We have always been waiting and expecting freedom, and God willing, freedom will soon be available to all prisoners."

He added: "I was released from Gilboa Prison, and I learned that my name was included in the list of those released about a month ago. The administration informed me and they transferred me to Ofer Prison."

He continued, "These moments are the happiest day of my life. Freedom Day is unparalleled, but our joy will not be complete until everyone is free."

During his detention, Islam was subjected to many punishments, including prolonged isolation, being denied visits and being banned from the canteen.

During his speech, he stressed the seriousness of the current conditions in the prisons, and said: "The conditions of the prisoners are difficult, and every day we expect a martyr from the prisoners, especially from the targeted symbols of the Palestinian people, and the occupation is trying every day to assassinate them slowly, and the prisons have turned into slaughterhouses in every sense of the word."

He added, "Due to the policies and repression of the occupation, the symbols of the Palestinian people are being humiliated and slowly assassinated inside the occupation's prisons."

With ululations, Palestinian chants and flowers, the freed prisoner Islam Washahi was welcomed when he arrived at his home, which was decorated with Palestinian flags and his pictures. He said, “After all these years, I say thank you to our brothers who sacrificed and gave a lot to liberate us. Praise be to God for the blessing of freedom and relief, and then thanks and greetings to our brothers in Gaza who gave their blood in sacrifice for our freedom and dignity. May God reward them on our behalf and on behalf of the nation with the best reward.”

The mother of the prisoner Islam, who hugged him and his sisters for a long time, said: “I have waited for this Eid for 23 years. We did not lose hope despite all the suffering, and our joy was completed with his safe and sound return to our arms. We thank Gaza for this heroism and gift, and we await the great victory for our people with the freedom of Gaza, Jerusalem, and all of Palestine.”