On January 19, 2025, a historic prisoner exchange took place between Hamas and Israel as part of a ceasefire deal. This marked a significant step towards alleviating the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with 90 Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails. Among the prominent figures freed was Khalida Jarrar, a 61-year-old Palestinian Member of Parliament (MP) and prominent figure in the left-wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Jarrar had been detained since December 2023 under Israel’s controversial administrative detention policy, which allows imprisonment without charge or trial. For the past six months, she endured solitary confinement in the Ayalon (Ramla) prison, living in a cramped 1m-by-1.5m cell. Rights groups like Addameer reported that the cell was barely large enough for a mattress, with severe restrictions on her food, hygiene, and personal belongings. This kind of treatment, along with Israel’s widespread use of administrative detention against Palestinian prisoners, highlights the brutal nature of Israel’s detention practices. In many cases, Palestinians are held indefinitely without access to due process, facing harsh conditions that violate international human rights law.
Khalida Jarrar explaining how tired she is because she just got out of solitary confinement. She then embraces her family members. ❤️
Jarrar’s father, daughter and nephew all died while she was prison, and Israeli occupation forces prevented her from attending any of their… pic.twitter.com/grXhnrkc1M
— Samar Saeed/سمر سعيد (@Samarsaeed) January 20, 2025
Jarrar’s release was part of a broader exchange that saw 33 Israeli captives returned from Gaza. Social media users shared before-and-after photos of Jarrar, drawing attention to the toll of her harsh conditions. “We thank everyone for our freedom, but we cannot forget the pain of losing so many Palestinian martyrs,” Jarrar said upon her release, reflecting on her mixed emotions.
A Life of Struggle and Advocacy
Born in Nablus, the West Bank, in 1963, Khalida Jarrar has been a lifelong advocate for Palestinian rights, particularly for those incarcerated under Israeli detention. She was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 and became a vocal supporter of prisoners’ rights. She also headed the Palestinian Prisoners’ Committee and played a key role in cementing Palestine’s accession to the International Criminal Court in 2015.
Jarrar’s activism, however, made her a target for Israeli authorities. Since 1989, she has been detained several times, with her most recent arrest in December 2023. Despite the years of incarceration, her resolve remained unbroken. During one stint in prison, she established a school for young women inmates. Her release was a significant victory for those advocating for the rights of Palestinian political prisoners, who number over 10,000 according to Addameer.
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Her sister, Salam Altratot, described Jarrar’s recent detention as the most difficult she had endured, considering the personal losses she suffered while imprisoned, including the deaths of her father, daughter, and nephew. Yet, despite these trials, Jarrar remained resolute, continuing her advocacy even from behind bars.
A Day of Joy and Solidarity
On the morning of January 19, 2025, buses carrying the freed Palestinians, including Jarrar, arrived in Ramallah, the capital of the occupied West Bank. Thousands of jubilant supporters filled the streets, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans of liberation. The atmosphere was one of mixed emotions—joy for the return of the prisoners, but sorrow for those still imprisoned, as well as the larger struggle for Palestinian sovereignty.
The celebration was a testament to the widespread support for Palestinian prisoners across various political factions. Among those released were 69 women and 21 young boys, some as young as 12. As the freed prisoners arrived in Ramallah, they were met by family members and friends, eager to reunite with their loved ones. Muhammad, a 20-year-old former prisoner, expressed his happiness at the sight of families reuniting, saying, “We came here to witness the freedom of our people.”
This moment of joy, however, was tempered by the ongoing violence and the grim statistics from Gaza. More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, and the war has caused widespread displacement, with nearly 90% of Gaza’s population forced to evacuate. Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments have obliterated entire neighborhoods, while the ongoing siege of Gaza restricts access to food, water, medical supplies, and essential services. In light of Israel’s systematic violations of international law—including the use of collective punishment, the targeting of civilians, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure—the situation in Gaza is not a conflict between two equal parties, but a grossly disproportionate assault on a population under siege and occupation.
Israeli forces have continued their brutal assault on Gaza, intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure, homes, schools, hospitals, and UN facilities. The targeting of such sites constitutes a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and other international humanitarian laws, which prohibit indiscriminate attacks against civilians and the use of collective punishment. The airstrikes and ground operations have left Gaza in ruins, with countless families trapped under rubble or unable to access basic medical care. Meanwhile, Israel’s ongoing detention of Palestinians, including children and women, in inhumane conditions further underscores its disregard for international human rights.
The Broader Context of the Ceasefire and Prisoner Exchange
The Gaza ceasefire agreement, which facilitated this first round of exchanges, is a three-phase deal. It promises to see the release of up to 737 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 33 Israeli captives. While Jarrar’s release was a high-profile moment, the overall significance of the deal cannot be understated. It brings a glimmer of hope amid the devastation, as the negotiations aim for a sustained calm and a permanent truce.
The ceasefire deal follows months of relentless violence and destruction, which have killed thousands and displaced millions. This war has been marked by an overwhelming asymmetry in the use of force, with Israel deploying advanced weaponry, airstrikes, and military tactics to inflict massive casualties on a trapped and beleaguered population. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned Israel for violating international law, including committing war crimes against Palestinian civilians. These violations include targeting civilians, using disproportionate force, and employing tactics such as airstrikes on densely populated areas.
Meanwhile, Palestinian resistance groups, fighting against the Israeli occupation and siege, continue to be labeled by Israel as “terrorists,” despite the clear imbalance of power and the dire circumstances faced by the people of Gaza. The international community, including the United Nations, has repeatedly criticized Israel’s actions, yet the Israeli government has persisted in its disregard for international law, contributing to the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people. Khalida Jarrar’s release is a moment of triumph for her and her supporters, but it is also a reminder that the struggle for justice, freedom, and dignity continues for millions of Palestinians still trapped under Israeli oppression. As Jarrar herself said, “While we feel this sense of freedom, we must remember the pain of those who remain behind bars, and those who continue to fight for justice.”