Ahmad Salaymeh, a Palestinian 8th grader, describes Israeli jail after release in swap deal

One of the youngest Palestinian detainees was set free on day five of the truce between Hamas and Israel that saw the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli captives held in Gaza. 

Ahmad Salaymeh, 14, was released from the Israeli prison of Damon near Haifa late Tuesday evening on day five of the truce amid tight measures by the police implemented to prevent celebratory gatherings upon his release. 

The 8th grader was put under house arrest last May on suspicion that he threw rocks at settlers of Ma'ale Zeitim in occupied East Jerusalem. A judge ordered Ahmad to be sent to the Damon prison two and a half months after being indicted. 

"We were isolated from the world", Ahmad told The New Arab. 

The Israeli police accused the 14-year-old of committing attacks against settlers of Maale Zeitim out of a nationalist motive and of being an anti-semite. Ahmad's father, Nawaf, told TNA that a conviction would have carried a sentence of 3-4 years. 

Following the 7 October attacks, the Israel prison service cut all communications between Palestinian prisoners and their relatives. Accounts given by recently released prisoners describe repressive actions taken by prison wardens in the wake of the attacks. 

"They made us kneel in front of them during prisoner counts", Ahmad added. 

Ahmad lives in Ras al-Amoud, near the Old City of Jerusalem and only a few minutes walk from Maale Zeitim. Today, Maale Zeitim is one the most prominent settlements inside a Palestinian neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem and is estimated to have more than 100 populated housing units. Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Aryeh King, a well-known settler whose views include the transfer of Palestinians out of the country, resides in it. 

"When the talk about a [prisoner release] deal began, they started giving us less food. Food was not enough. They brought us food just to keep us alive", Ahmad said about the conditions inside Israeli jails. 

'Proud of my son'

On the day of his son's release, the police summoned Nawaf, confiscated his phone and held him in the station for over seven hours. During that time, the Israeli police inspected the Salaymeh residence to ensure that uncles, aunts, cousins or friends were absent and that there would be no celebrations upon Ahamd's arrival. 

Israel is currently holding at least 7,000 Palestinian prisoners inside jails in the occupied West Bank and Israel, many of whom are held without charge. Over 3,000 Palestinians have been detained or questioned since 7 October. 

"I am proud of my son. My son is defending his honour, his land, and his identity. The peace process did not lead to the release of prisoners, and this has forced the resistance to strike a blow to bring back the prisoners". 

Nawaf, 48, told TNA he was also a former prisoner in the same Damon prison three decades earlier. 

According to Human Rights Watch, the large number of Palestinian detainees inside Israeli jails is primarily the result of separate criminal justice systems the Israeli authorities maintain in the occupied territory. The nearly 3 million Palestinians who live in the occupied West Bank are ruled under harsh military law and prosecuted in military courts. In contrast, roughly half a million Israeli settlers in the West Bank are governed under civil and criminal law and face trials in Israeli civil courts. 

As of Wednesday, 29 November, Israel has released 180 Palestinian prisoners. 

Hamas freed a total of 73 Israelis, including dual nationals, during the first six days of the truce. Another 24 hostages — 23 Thais and one Filipino — have also been released. Before the cease-fire, Hamas released four hostages. Two others were found dead in Gaza.