Maher Younis: Greatest reward unity among all Palestinians

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Karim Younis is free

Karim Younes breaks the shackles of oppression after 40 years in Israeli occupation prisons

Karim Younis, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli prison, is freed on January 6, 2023, 40 years after he was first arrested in January 1983.

Palestine's Ministry of Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners revealed that the occupation took away all the joy by freeing him without prior notice at an early time in the morning in “Ra'anana”-- far from the occupied Palestinian village 'Ara, his hometown where a welcoming ceremony has been prepared by family and neighbors.

The spokesperson for the Prisoners' Information Office Hazem Hassanein tersely stated that "this policy, which was implemented by the occupation, aims to prevent gatherings and organize any celebration of Karim’s liberation after all these years."

He also added that this policy of his release without prior notice was used previously with Sheikh Raed Salah for the same reason.

Earlier, Israeli occupation police stormed the home of the prisoner's family in his village 'Ara and confiscated Palestinian flags.

The occupation police threatened his family not to show any signs of celebrations, including raising Palestinian flags or Resistance banners and posters, in addition to playing patriotic songs.

The police also confiscated all the flags and banners inside the external hall set up yesterday after the occupation refused to allow Karim's reception in a closed hall.

It is worth noting that Younis' mom died while he was in prison. Since he was captured in 1983, Sabiha Younis long waited for her son until she passed away. 

Prisoner Karim Younis, born in 1958 in the village of 'Ara, was arrested by the occupation forces at the age of 23 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

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Unbroken: Karim Younes free

'He paid a dear price, but it didn't break him': Karim Younes free after 40 years in Israeli prisons

Karim Younes made his way to his hometown of Ara on Thursday after serving 40 years in Israeli jails. The 63-year-old remained behind bars longer than any other Palestinian prisoner.

Karim Younes meeting with relatives, friends and media outlets at his hometown of Ara after his release on 5 January, 2023. [Twitter]

Speaking to a reporter, the former prisoner appeared in good spirits. "Forty years have passed..and I would have sacrificed another forty years for the liberty of our people," he said

In 1983, an Israeli court sentenced Karim Younes to life for the 1980 killing of Avraham Bromberg, an Israeli soldier. 

He was also convicted of membership in the Fatah movement, banned at the time, and illegally possessing weapons.

In 2017, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas selected Karim Younes to be a member of the Fatah Central Committee. 

Israeli security minister Itamar Ben Gvir banned Palestinians from celebrating the release of Younes. 

In addition, Aryeh Deri, Israel's interior minister, is reportedly considering revoking Younes' Israeli citizenship - suggesting a move to possibly expel him. 

Israeli forces transported Karim Younis from Hadarim prison to the city of Raanana, some 57 kilometres away from his home in Ara. 

In Raanana, Younes was left at a bus station with no means to call his relatives. Then, finally, he saw Arab workers who helped him call his relatives in Ara. 

"The prisoners are strong, and their strength lies in their unity...God willing they'll be free, all of them. Now I wait for the release of Maher Younes," Karim told reporters. 

Maher Younes, Karim's relative, was convicted and sentenced on the same counts. He is set to be released soon. 

Days before his discharge from Hadarim prison, Karim wrote a letter expressing mixed emotions about leaving comrades behind and yearning for liberation. 

"I will leave my cell, but my soul will remain with those who have kept the struggle for Palestine," he wrote.

Karim's first stop in Ara was the cemetery where his parents were buried.

Aryeh Deri's declared intent to revoke the Israeli citizenship of the former prisoner has some legal ground, according to the Haifa-based law expert Sawsan Zaher. 

In 2008 the Israeli Knesset amended the citizenship law allowing the interior minister to revoke the citizenship of individuals convicted of 'terror' acts. However, there may be difficulties in actually cancelling Karim's status since he has no other citizenship. 

"There is no doubt that Deri is using his powers out of pure racism and for vengeance and political gains," Zaher told TNA. 

"We feel victorious. True he paid a dear price, but it didn't break him. He showed that liberty is attainable, even if it takes long to arrive," he added. 

https://www.newarab.com/news/unbroken-k ... aeli-jails

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IOF raid reception for Karim Younis

Israeli occupation intelligence storms the reception tent of freed Palestinian prisoner Karim Younis in the town of 'Ara in the '48 occupied territories

Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that the Israeli occupation intelligence stormed the reception tent erected to welcome back freed Palestinian prisoner Karim Younis in the town of 'Ara in the '48 occupied territories.

The town of 'Ara in the '48 occupied territories celebrated the liberation of Karim Younis, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli prisons.

Hundreds of Palestinians attended the festive ceremony, including liberated prisoners, freedom fighters, and political activists despite Israeli threats and warnings.

After a minute of silence to honor Palestinian martyrs and playing the national anthem, the ceremony included a speech by freed prisoner Karim Younis, as well as other speeches that highlighted the Palestinian prisoner's fight for freedom.

It is worth noting that Israeli media reported that Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke with the Israeli police commissioner on Wednesday and directed him to prevent any festive ceremonies celebrating the liberation of Karim Younis.

Karim Younis was freed on January 6, 2023, 40 years after he was first arrested in January 1983.

Earlier to his liberation, Israeli occupation police stormed the home of the prisoner's family in his village 'Ara and confiscated Palestinian flags.

The occupation police threatened his family not to show any signs of celebrations, including raising Palestinian flags or Resistance banners and posters, in addition to playing patriotic songs.

The police also confiscated all the flags and banners inside the external hall set up yesterday after the occupation refused to allow Younis' reception in a closed hall.

Upon his liberation, Karim Younis headed first to the town's cemetery to visit his mother's graves, all while projecting high morale despite the injustices of the occupation.

Younis told Al Mayadeen immediately after his release from Israeli occupation prisons, "My mother was the ambassador of all prisoners and she bore responsibilities beyond her capacity."

Speaking from the cemetery in the town of 'Ara, Younis said, "My mother chose to see me from the heavens as a freedom fighter, and my father and mother drew me a road map and inspired me in the journey of resistance."

Karim Younis' mother died last May, after long years of waiting, a few months before her son was released.

"I am speechless, and this is the first day I see the outer world in a long time. The world now is so different from the one I once knew," he added.

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Israeli occupation isolates Maher Younis

Muhjat Al-Quds Foundation reported on Tuesday that the Israeli occupation transferred the prisoner Maher Younis (65 years old) to an unknown destination 40 hours prior to his scheduled release, after spending [b]40 years in captivity[/b]

The Foundation added that the occupation aims, by transferring Younis to an unknown destination, to prevent him from celebrating his freedom among his fellow Palestinian prisoners and deprive him of his freedom joy.

Within the same context, the Israeli occupation prisons administration informed the prisoner, Maher Younis, that he would be transferred from Al-Naqab prison for investigation, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

The Club indicated that Younis was transferred during this month also for investigation in "Megiddo" prison, although he is scheduled to be freed on Thursday after spending over 40 years in Israeli occupation prisons.

The town of 'Ara in the '48 occupied territories is preparing to receive the freed prisoner.

On his part, the brother of the prisoner, Nader Younis (63 years), said in a phone call with the Palestinian agency Wafa that the Israeli occupation police visited the prisoner's house this morning, took pictures of it, and warned him (Nader) against setting up reception tents or raising the Palestinian flag.

"We will fulfill our duty toward our people. We will receive them and respect everyone who comes to congratulate us on the liberation of our brother and son [of the nation] Maher. We will prepare food and sweets, ignoring the threats of the occupation that wants to spoil our joy after a 40-year-long wait."

He was arrested at 23 years old and has spent his entire youth in prison. He was even prevented from seeing his family for a long time.

Younis submitted a petition to see his dying father in 2008, which the occupation rejected, so his father passed away without Maher getting to see him after decades of being unable to, noting that his father was also a former prisoner who spent 8 years in Israeli occupation prisons.

It is noteworthy that Younis was arrested on January 18, 1983, for resisting the occupation and his affiliation with the Fatah movement, shortly after his cousin Karim Younis was arrested, in addition to their companion Sami Younis, who was released in a prisoner exchange deal in 2011.

While in prison, Maher Younis was subjected to a harsh investigation, and the occupation sentenced him to death, and after a month of his sentencing, it was changed to life imprisonment.

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Maher Younis free at last

Upon his release, liberated Palestinian prisoner Maher Younis told journalists that the greatest reward he could envision is to have unity among all Palestinians

"I had hoped after 40 years to see my homeland liberated", he tersely stated.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 19, 2023

Maher chose his father's grave in the cemetery in the town of 'Ara as his first destination following his freedom, accompanied by a crowd of his townspeople and relatives, including his cousin Karim Younis, who was liberated on January 5.

Shortly after, Younis finally embraced his mother after 40 years spent in captivity in Israeli occupation prisons in what activists described as a heartwarming and overwhelming reunion.

The Younis family house was full of welcomers, despite the occupation forces' attempts to prevent gatherings and organize any celebration of Maher’s liberation after all these years.

It is worth noting that this policy was previously used with Karim Younis for the same reason.

Liberated prisoner #KarimYounis: We will welcome Maher in a manner truly befitting him, despite the occupation's harassment.#Palestine https://t.co/Pb89aEp3IA
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 19, 2023

The Israeli occupation transferred Maher (65 years old) to an unknown destination 40 hours prior to his scheduled release.

By transferring Younis to an unknown destination, the occupation aimed to prevent him from celebrating his freedom among his fellow Palestinian prisoners, and deprive him of his joy, as per Muhjat Al-Quds Foundation.

It is noteworthy that Younis was arrested on January 18, 1983, for resisting the occupation and for his affiliation with the Fatah movement, shortly after his cousin Karim Younis was arrested, in addition to their companion Sami Younis, who was released in a prisoner exchange deal in 2011.

While in prison, Maher was subjected to harsh conditions, and the occupation sentenced him to death, which was changed to life imprisonment a month after his sentencing.

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