Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Israa Al Jaabis sits in a chair in the shade of a large tree in the courtyard of her parents’ hillside home in the Jabal Al Mukaber neighbourhood of East Jerusalem.
A smile spreads across her scarred face as she greets a friend, one of dozens who have visited since she was released from an Israeli jail late Saturday night.
Arguably one of the most prominent Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, Ms Al Jaabi's release was welcomed by many in her community.
Israeli police, however, prevented any celebration of her release with officers dispersing a crowd that had gathered outside her parents' home in anticipation of her return.
“I’m saddened that my family had to experience that,” Ms Al Jaabis told The National.
She was part of the second batch of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel as part of a deal with Hamas, that will see the militant group free 50 hostages it kidnapped on October 7 in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians held in Israeli jails and a four-day pause in fighting.
Ms Al Jaabis only heard about the exchange a few days ago, she said. She was hoping she would be among the first group released.
“I felt like the prison administration didn’t want me to get out,” she said.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has instructed police to shut down any celebrations for Palestinians released from Jail.
“My instructions are clear: there are to be no expressions of joy,” Mr Gvir said before the prisoners' release.
Ms Al Jaabis said Palestinians also have a right to celebrate.
“You want to meet your kids who were held hostage when they get to Tel Aviv, you want to hug them and have parties for them, OK do it,” Ms Al Jaabis said. “But as you are human, we are humans as well.”
In 2015 Ms Al Jaabis was arrested after a gas canister detonated inside her car injuring an Israeli police officer and leaving her with third degree burns across 65 per cent of her body, including on her face and hands.
They used to treat me poorly and in an inhumane way
Israa Al Jaabis,
released Palestinian prisoner
She was sentenced to 11 years in jail for an attempted suicide bombing, a charge she denies.
During the course of her imprisonment, Ms Al Jaabis accused Israel of denying her proper medical treatment and became a powerful symbol for the plight of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails.
“They rejected my treatment,” she said. “They used to treat me poorly and in an inhumane way.”
While the 39 year-old mother is deeply relieved to be free and reunited with her son Mutasim, who was just eight years-old when she went to prison, she is cognisant of all the time that she has missed.
“When I left he was just a boy, now he is a teenager, with hair on his legs and body. He is almost a man,” she said.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE’s revised Cricket World Cup League Two schedule
August, 2021: Host - United States; Teams - UAE, United States and Scotland
Between September and November, 2021 (dates TBC): Host - Namibia; Teams - Namibia, Oman, UAE
December, 2021: Host - UAE; Teams - UAE, Namibia, Oman
February, 2022: Hosts - Nepal; Teams - UAE, Nepal, PNG
June, 2022: Hosts - Scotland; Teams - UAE, United States, Scotland
September, 2022: Hosts - PNG; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
February, 2023: Hosts - UAE; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full
1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
6 Mark Zuckerberg $67.3 billion
7 Larry Page $56.8 billion
8 Larry Ellison $56.1 billion
9 Sergey Brin $55.2 billion
10 Carlos Slim $55.2 billion
Teams in the EHL
White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
