**Palestinian Prisoner Freed: “The Hostages Meant I Got Out”**
Bushra al-Tawil, a Palestinian journalist, was enjoying her first day of freedom with family and friends in Ramallah. She had just been released from an Israeli prison as part of a deal to exchange Palestinian prisoners for hostages held by Hamas.
Al-Tawil joked about the simple food she used to have in prison, saying “In prison, it was only hummus.” Her mother was happy to have her back home and Bushra said “I am a reporter. I have a right to express myself.”
This is not the first time al-Tawil has been released from an Israeli prison. In 2011, she was one of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who were freed as part of a deal to release Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza for over five years. However, she was quickly re-arrested and spent more time behind bars.
Al-Tawil spoke about the harsh conditions she faced during her arrests, saying she was severely beaten and threatened with being shot. She also expressed concerns about losing her personal freedom, saying “The worst part was not being able to wear my head scarf.”
When asked if she supported Hamas, al-Tawil refused to comment. However, when asked about the three Israeli hostages who were released on Sunday after more than a month of Hamas captivity, she said “We had to return home, and they had to go home. The hostages meant I got out.”
The prisoner exchange deal has sparked debate among Palestinians and Israelis about the use of hostages as bargaining chips in negotiations.
Read More @ www.bbc.com
