After Decades in Prison, Released Palestinians Are Free, But Cannot See Their Families

For families of Palestinian prisoners released under the “Flood of the Free” exchange agreement, freedom has come with a bitter condition: their relatives are deported to Egypt, and Israeli authorities refuse to let families cross the border to see them.

The Prisoners’ Media Office has documented multiple cases of families denied travel permits to reunite with sons, fathers, and brothers who spent decades in Israeli prisons. First-degree relatives: mothers, siblings, children have been turned away at border crossings repeatedly, leaving newly freed prisoners isolated in a country where they know almost no one.

In Egypt, released prisoners have formed an informal support network, meeting new arrivals and filling the absence of family. But for many, the separation remains devastating.

Ezzedine Hamamra: Nine Life Sentences, 21 Years, Still Waiting for His Mother

Ezzedine Hamamra, from the town of Husan in Bethlehem, was released after serving 21 years of a nine-life-sentence term. His family has tried twice to reach him in Egypt. Each time, Israeli authorities turned them back.

“All first-degree relatives are prohibited from travelling to Egypt,” his sister said. “My mother, my brother, and we, his sisters, we have all attempted twice. Each time we were turned back.”

The family’s ordeal is compounded by another detention: Ezzedine’s sister Shireen remains imprisoned at Damon. Ezzedine learned she had been arrested while he was en route to Cairo. Shireen heard of her brother’s release during a court hearing on October 17, 2025.

“We accept God’s decree,” his sister said. “Thank God we have relatives abroad who were able to embrace him in our stead. As for us, the first-degree relatives, we remain deprived of this right to this day.”

Baher Badr: His Elderly Mother Turned Back at the Border

Baher Badr, from Beit Liqya near Ramallah, was released after 21 years in detention. His brother, Bahij Badr, remains imprisoned, serving fifteen life sentences.

Earlier this month, Baher’s elderly mother traveled to the border crossing to embrace her son for the first time in more than two decades. Israeli authorities turned her away. She suffers from chronic illnesses.

Months earlier, Baher’s brother and sister had attempted the same journey. They too were denied. Every first-degree relative in the family has now been refused permission to see him.

Sheikh Abdel Rahman Salah: Released from a Hospital Bed, Alone

Sheikh Abdel Rahman Salah spent 23 years in Israeli detention. When he was finally released, he was transferred directly from Ramla Prison Hospital to Cairo for ongoing medical treatment. His family was barred from accompanying him.

“We remain in constant contact with the hospital and doctors, monitoring his health condition despite the ban,” his daughter said. “There are people we trust who are following up on his treatment, as well as the released prisoners in Egypt who do not leave him alone. But we, his family, are all prohibited from travelling. We can only pray and call him.”

His condition has stabilized, but his family says he needs them with him after so many years apart. They are appealing for international intervention to allow them to travel and see their father.