Palestinian, 20, imprisoned for a social media post recounts her ordeal in Israeli prison
Triggered by the death of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, I wrote a few words on social media indicating my solidarity with them. Any show of support for Gaza seemed prohibited and the Israeli officials disliked it. So, on October 10, 2023, at the age of 20, my life as a prisoner began.
- 4 months ago
January 1, 2024
Aida camp in the West Bank, where the Hanin family resides after being displaced from Jerusalem years prior. | Photo courtesy of Facebook - Aida Camp
BETHLEHEM, West Bank — For so long, I heard stories of people taken into custody by Israeli officials for trivial issues. Some remained indefinitely, without a trial. I never imagined one day this would be my story, as I never did a thing to warrant an arrest. We lived in the West Bank where security had been relatively stable at the time.
However, after the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the death of 1,200 Israelis, my entire life turned on its head. Triggered by the death of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, I wrote a few words on social media indicating my solidarity with them. Any show of support for Gaza seemed prohibited and the Israeli officials disliked it. So, on October 10, 2023, at the age of 20, my life as a prisoner began.
Read more stories on the Israel-Palestine war at Orate World Media.
At 20 years of age, I went from a Palestinian refugee to a prisoner
This war and my arrest are not the first tragic experience my family faced at the hands of Israeli authorities. In 1967, my family lost its history and culture to the six-year war between Israel and Palestine. Known as the first Intifada, my family forcibly migrated out of the enchanting city of Jerusalem, where we traced our rich history. We took refuge in the Aida camp nestled in Bethlehem within the West Bank. This camp would become my birthplace decades later.
Despite experiencing firsthand the complexities of life within a refugee camp, I determined to live above the adversities. I never let my life situation define me, remaining steadfast in pursuing studies at the esteemed Al-Quds Open University. There, I unearthed a profound passion for singing, an art form that transcends boundaries and connects people on a deeper level.
I never found myself entangled in any trouble or subjected to incarceration until October 10, 2023. After October 7th, Israel’s bloody response heightened tensions and disrupted the fragile peace I came to know. The frequency of raids skyrocketed, and they quickly silenced any voices in support of Gaza. Thoughts of my family and friends clouded my mind as they took me away. I thought I would never see my loved ones again, or at least for a very long time.
Confined to a cramped cell with eight other female inmates, I spent time listening to the stories of those who came in before me. In the past, Palestinian prisoners were known to be treated inhumanely, but I learned that after October 7, conditions worsened. Cells that once accommodated three prisoners now housed eight inmates.
Prison conditions for Palestinians worsened after the October 7 attack
This drastic change in capacity not only posed physical constraints but also impacted our daily living and interactions within the prison walls. The once seemingly bearable conditions which previously included access to television and the internet, transformed into a nightmarish reality characterized by relentless brutality and incessant beatings.
Not only were the courageous individuals around me subjected to physical torment, but they also faced callous disregard for their basic human needs. The authorities shamefully doled out meager portions of sustenance, leaving prisoners on the brink of starvation. To add insult to injury, the system mercilessly curtailed their sleep to a mere few hours per night.
The heartbreaking and dire circumstances were not isolated incidents but rather symbolic of the plight endured by Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli prisons. It deeply saddened me and served as a stark reminder of the urgent need for justice and compassion in our world today.
My life may never be the same again. I am traumatized by my prison ordeal
After two months, Israel and Hamas finally reached a deal and my prison doors opened. The agreement involved the exchange of 50 hostages held in Gaza for a temporary pause in fighting. Additionally, the deal included the release of 150 Palestinians held indefinity in Israeli jails, as well as a significant increase in the amount of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza. I’ll never forget taking that long walk to freedom.
Despite all the difficult circumstances we endured before October 7, 2023, my optimism about the future never dwindled. My voice soared with song every day, filled with joy and faith. In the eyes of young children and the chirping of birds early in the morning, the sound of hope and freedom rang in my heart. I smelled it in the fragrance of flowers.
However, when I left prison, I felt like a completely different person. I no longer dreamed, and the songs in my throat suffocated and died completely.
The once-bustling marketplace of the camp felt like a distant memory. The laughter of children playing in the streets and the scent of spices wafting through the air – sensory experiences that once defined my daily life – now seemed like fragments of another world.
I struggled to reintegrate into a place that felt both familiar and foreign. The scars on my body began to heal, but the wounds in my soul ran deep. The once vibrant hues of my dreams faded to grayscale, leaving behind a poignant emptiness. Life in the Aida refugee camp resumed its erratic rhythm, but for me, each passing day carried the weight of my traumatic past.
I long to return to the place where my ancestors called home. I long for world peace
Most Palestinians I know live in a state of constant mourning, and they feel as I do. Every day, we witness the loss of lives. In Gaza, the bombardment is non-stop. Palestinian children have no faith in the future like other children around the world.
Palestinians in Gaza have become victims caught between the hammer of Israel and the anvil of Hamas. The situation appears to be a never-ending ordeal, with the Israeli government vowing to eradicate Hamas and secure the release of the remaining 160 hostages.
With unwavering resilience and a spirit driven by hope for a better tomorrow, I believe that one day we will leave the refugee camps. We will return to Jerusalem, our home, whose legacy is etched in our hearts. Until then, I will recover from my ordeal, continue to pursue my studies, refine my vocal talents, and share the power of music as a catalyst for healing and unity in a world that so desperately needs it.
