Beit Ummar, occupied West Bank – Fidaa Abu Maria bustles around her simple, sparse house in Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, alternately worried then full of hope then afraid.
After making her son’s bed, she begins to fold his freshly laundered clothes, seeming to whisper prayers to herself with each fold.
Her son, Ubai, may be coming home, and she wants to be ready, she needs that little boost of hope and optimism.
His name was on an Israeli list of 300 people who could be released in an upcoming exchange between Hamas and Israel. Fifty captives taken by Hamas to Gaza will be released and exchanged for 150 Palestinian women and children held captive in Israeli prisons – this means there is a 50/50 chance that Fidaa will see Ubai soon.
She worries about him constantly because when Ubai was arrested by Israeli forces on August 8, four months after his 18th birthday, he had only 30 percent use of one of his hands.
He was shot in the elbow last November and was undergoing various therapies to regain use of his hand. But his treatment stopped once he was incarcerated in the Israeli prison system.
Like many young Palestinian boys, this was unfortunately not the first time Ubai had been arrested; he had already been arrested four times before.
Early in his detention, Ubai was attacked by prison guards, resulting in head injuries, and was isolated for 14 days.
“His detention was marked by numerous beatings and attacks. I was so scared for his health because of his hand injury and because he didn’t get a chance to have the surgery he was scheduled for. They were supposed to replace his wrist joint, but that never happened.
“Since October 7, we have heard that the situation of prisoners in the occupation prisons has worsened, that they have all been attacked and deprived of the most basic rights such as food, clothing, etc..”
Ubai’s father, Youssef, could barely contain his excitement and worry. “We had been hopeful for a while and this morning a friend called me. He follows the Hebrew media and woke me up early in the morning to tell me that Ubai’s name was on the list.
“I have already been arrested, and after 30 arrests, I see the release of my son as if he were going to be reborn. Prisoners are attacked so much in the occupation prisons.
“We are very grateful to the people of Gaza, especially to the martyrs and the injured. All of this is due to God first and to the valiant resistance that brought our sons out of darkness into the light.
Favorite foods and fresh linens
Abu Maria’s house is sparse and very simple, neat as a pin and filled with the anxious excitement of family members. Fidaa wanders away from one chore or another to sit on one of the beds in the family room to listen to the news.
“I am happy. My feelings are those of every Palestinian mother when she learns that her son might be released: full of joy, but bittersweet because our little little joy comes at the expense of the blood of the people of Gaza. I am grateful, so grateful.
“I cooked. I prepare his favorite dish, zucchini stuffed with yogurt sauce, and the desserts he loves, homemade chocolate cakes. He prefers my pastry to all other cakes because I am a home pastry chef.
“I keep saying that I will happily make him dessert for breakfast any day, as much as he wants. I set up his room and washed his new clothes. Everyone is calling me, my family and my friends. Everyone is excited and wants to come and share our joy and welcome him.
Youssef helped as much as he could, then embarked on his own project, decorating the house inside and out to express the family’s almost unbearable hope and joy.
All that was left was the hardest times to wait for the news of the release.