It was a cold Wednesday evening, when 39 -year -old Nevin Abu Sahloul was waiting for her son Muhammad. The 17-year-old was missing from the beginning of last year, and Abu Sahloul was afraid of the worst-he died during a raging war in Gaza.
When she slowly moved through the crowd, she and her sister, Nida Abu Sahloul, remained close to each other, trying to find anyone who can have information.
Hundreds of people were in the European hospital in southern Gaza, waiting for their loved ones among 620 Palestinians released in the latest exchange of hostages and prisoners, which they agreed in the first phase of the arms suspension between Israel and the Hamas combat group.
“This feeling is indescribable when we learned that he was alive. I can't describe, “said Abu Sahloul that he is an independent cameraman CBC News Mohamed El Saife. “I couldn't imagine that Muhammad was alive and now he was released.”
Latest exchange means the end of the first phase of the weapon suspension agreement in which 33 Israeli hostages, including eight bodies, were released for almost 2,000 Palestinian and detainees prisoners.
On Thursday, Israel sent Negotiators to meet in Cairo To discuss the extension of the initial phase. In response on Friday, Hamas “confirmed full commitment to implementing all the terms of the contract at all stages and details” in the post to a service telegram.
Waiting for a son's release takes a toll
The arms suspension agreement was achieved after more than 15 months of the war, which began with Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to the fact that about 250 people were taken away in gas hostages, according to Israeli internships. According to another military offensive, Israel killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, according to the Ministry of Health Gaza.
Muhammad was to be released with over 40 other minors on February 22, but he was delayed by Israel, who complained that the way Hamas released hostages was “degrading. “
The suspension of the weapon began on January 19 and in the last few weeks, the Israeli hostages were displayed at the stages established in various districts in the Gaza Strip and forced to wave crowds of people before they were handed over to the Red Cross officials.
When El Saife talked to Abu Sahloul, her mother just started what would be waiting in the hospital day by day to unsuccessfully.
Around 5 am on Wednesday, she was told that the bus leading her son and other detainees would not come until noon. Tired and overwhelmed, she fell to her knees as her sister tried to comfort her.
A few hours later, led by a convoy of Jeeps of the Red Cross, the bus stopped to the European hospital at Khan Youunis. From a distance, passengers looked identical, with shaved heads and bearing gray.
17 -year -old Muhammad Abu Sahloul is one of the hundreds of Palestinians who will be released in the latest replacement of hostages and prisoners under a weapon suspension agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Some spent open windows and waved in a crowd gathering nearby, and some were detained in tears.
Aunt Muhammad, Nidaa, was the one who first saw him on the bus. She was waiting with Abu Sahloul from the previous night to see if his name would appear on the list to be published.
“I couldn't believe it when I saw him on the bus,” she said.
“It's an indescribable feeling”
The detained ones receive medical control in the hospital and change of clothes before they can connect with families. But before Muhammad, he could still go to the hospital in gray sweat, he and his mother found and embraced.
They waited for this moment 13 months, losing hope many times that it would ever happen. Muhammad did not breathe and tears when his family surrounded him and waited for them to hug him with anxiety.
“It's an indescribable feeling. God wants every detained mother feels the happiness I saw, “said Abu Sahloul.
The teenager told El Saife that he was arrested on January 24, 2024 and spent 420 days in custody, where he said he was beaten and infested with electricity – “the worst treatment” he had ever seen in his life. Muhammad said his family was not given any information when he was detained. His mother contacted organizations that they would know if he were detained, but always returned empty -handed.
In the end, Muhammad said he lost his hope that he would ever see his family.
“I did not expect that the day would come when I see the sky without bars,” he said.