One of the crucial high-profile prisoners to be launched by Israel has advised Sky Information that the world has ignored Palestinians and says Britain is likely one of the international locations he blames for taking away his freedom.
Zakaria Zubeidi was imprisoned in 2019 after being discovered responsible by an Israeli army courtroom of involvement in terrorism.
He was launched as a part of the ceasefire settlement and welcomed again to the West Financial institution by crowds of well-wishers, together with the person who was prime minister lower than a yr in the past.
Evaluation: Zubeidi an ‘extremist’ to Israel but inspiration to Palestine
In his first interview with a European broadcaster, Zubeidi advised Sky Information he nonetheless believes in “a resistance that may lead us to freedom” however claimed that Israeli occupation of the West Financial institution was wholly right down to the worldwide group.
“My life is nugatory with out freedom,” he stated, talking in Ramallah. “Freedom has no value. However the world that has denied me my freedom – significantly Britain, France, and the US – should return what they’ve taken from me and my youngsters.
“They’re those who must rethink their errors, not me.
“They’re those who’ve wronged us, and they need to take into consideration rectifying the hurt they’ve precipitated to me and my youngsters.”
Zubeidi, whose mom, brother and son have all died because of Israeli army motion, has admitted involvement in a 2002 bombing that killed six individuals.
Nonetheless, he has additionally been acclaimed by many within the West Financial institution as an emblem of the resistance.
He was famously a part of a gaggle of prisoners who briefly escaped their Israeli jail after utilizing kitchen utensils to dig a tunnel.
“My message to the Palestinian individuals is to prioritise their security and well-being as a result of the assault being carried out in opposition to them is immense. I’ve no message for the occupation [Israel],” he stated.
“My message is to the world – the identical world that granted the occupation the proper to dwell on my land – to grant me my freedom.”
In widespread with many different launched prisoners, he claimed to have been overwhelmed whereas behind bars, saying: “The state of affairs in Israeli prisons is extraordinarily harsh. We have witnessed all of it: extreme beatings, assault canines, relentless insults. Each type of abuse possible has been inflicted on the our bodies of our prisoners.”
Whereas many in Israel will think about Zubeidi to be a harmful, murderous extremist, he’s thought of a totemic determine within the West Financial institution, and a pure chief in Jenin, the place he grew up in a refugee camp.
After being launched, Israeli authorities banned him from returning to Jenin.
As a substitute, he has remained in Ramallah, the place a protracted line of individuals got here to a faculty constructing to shake his hand and hug him.
Amongst them, former prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who resigned lower than a yr in the past.
He embraced Zubeidi and advised Sky Information the discharge of prisoners may very well be a catalyst for a permanent peace deal.
“We wish to see all prisoners launched and we wish to see all hostages going house,” stated Mr Shtayyeh.
He continued: “It is a historic second for everyone. It is time for this bloodshed to cease. And I feel it’s a second of fact for everyone.
“In Gaza, 60,000 individuals have been killed, greater than 120,000 have been injured. And naturally, there have been so many casualties in Israel, too.
“We all know that. And this time Palestinians are determined for peace. We would like a real peace course of that does actually carry peace and justice for everyone.”
Greater than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, in keeping with Hamas-run authorities in Gaza, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants.
The offensive adopted Hamas’s assault on Israel on 7 October 2023, when it took 250 individuals hostage and killed round 1,200 others.
