AL-KHALIL, (PIC)
After 25 years he spent in Israeli occupation prisons, the freed prisoner Abdul Karim al-Rimawi breathed the air of freedom, to begin the journey of return that his family had waited for so long, and to complete a family picture that had been missing one of its pillars for a quarter of a century.
At the al-Zahariya checkpoint south of al-Khalil, Rimawi’s wife Lydia was anticipating his release with bated breath, while his son Majd, who was born via smuggled sperm 14 years ago, was preparing to meet his father for the first time outside prison walls.
As for his daughter Rand, who was an infant upon his arrest, she has become a 26-year-old young woman holding a master’s degree in media.
The picture that was completed after a quarter of a century
In a touching moment, Rimawi gathered with his wife, his son, and his daughter to take the first complete family picture since his arrest. There was no longer between them the glass of visitation rooms or the restrictions of time, but rather a complete picture from which one of its members had been absent for 25 years.
This moment formed the biggest dream for Rimawi throughout the years of his captivity, as he was looking forward to the day he would embrace his family in freedom. His wife and children also waited for this moment year after year until it was finally realized.
Rejecting freedom conditioned on deportation
Despite his name being included in previous exchange deals about a year and a half ago, his release was conditioned on his deportation to Egypt, which he rejected, preferring to remain in captivity rather than leave his homeland.
After his release, he headed to the shrine of the late President Yasser Arafat to read al-Fatiha for his soul, then continued his way to his town of Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah. There, he visited the graves of his parents, who passed away before witnessing his freedom, and stood before them, saying, “Here I am back, mother. Here I am back, father.”
Family reception and Israeli threats
The family received Rimawi at their home amid a large attendance of relatives and friends who flocked to congratulate him. However, the reception was devoid of public manifestations of celebration due to Israeli threats to return him to prison if any celebrations were held.
The Israeli occupation forces had arrested Abdul Karim al-Rimawi on June 18, 2001, while he was returning from his university after finishing his third academic year.
During the years of captivity, he continued his university education at Al-Quds Open University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in community service.