Hussam Khader will be at home today. He was imprisoned six years ago, but his name remained in the news as his brother headed the campaign to garner his release.
From Nablus’ Balata Refugee Camp, Khader is the Chairman of the Committee to Defend the Rights of Palestinian Refugees. As such, refugee camps both inside and out are preparing to celebrate his home-coming. Khader was also a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
One hundred and ninety-nine Palestinians, out of approximately 11,000, are returning from Israeli prisons today. They will come through the Beitunia Checkpoint on buses and be driven straight to the Presidential Offices, the Muqata, to be received by hundreds.
Two other big names in Monday’s release are PLC member from the Fateh party, Abu Ali Yatta, and the longest standing political prisoner Sa’ed Al A’taba’.
The Committee to Defend the Rights of Palestinian Refugees has received messages of congratulations from near and far, including from the Palestinian Right of Return Coalition which is the largest group of its kind internationally.
The Coalition, otherwise known as Al Awda, wrote: “The release of our brother Husam Khader will strengthen Palestinian action in the defense of the rights of Palestinian refugees. This is man accustomed to stand solidly and bravely. He does not compromise on the right of return.”
Afif Gattashh, the Chairman of the Board of the Center for Citizenship Rights of Refugees, expressed collective delight at the release of his “brother and friend.” He said, “The release of Palestinian prisoners is an inevitable outcome of the Palestinian struggle to uphold our rights.”
He said of Khader, “He was carrying the banner of the faithful to return the rights of refugees and a fierce defender here in the back yard of the darkest of circumstances. This man’s calling was to be solid and courageous in his positions.”
The Commission also received a telegram of congratulations from the Confederation of the European Right of Return, which stated that “the release of the leader Hussam Khader is long-awaited. He has been the corner-stone of the return movement, which is a movement that is expanding day by day.”
Right of Return groups in Syria and Lebanon called for the release of all Palestinian political prisoners from Israeli jails that “live in the worst conditions and are subjected to all forms of humiliation and physical and psychological torture.” The refugees said that Khader’s release “will have a significant impact throughout the world in defending the rights of refugees.”
Khader’s own Balata Refugee Camp in the northern West Bank’s Nablus is ready to receive him today. The Youth for Social Action Club, which Khader was a part of founding, plans to increase its activities in his honor.
Other civil institutions in the Camp expressed extreme pleasure at the release of the three big names. The President of the Youth Center said, “The release of leaders of the caliber of Hussam Khader, Sa’ed Al A’taba’ and Abu Ali Yatta must give us all the impetus to strengthen our steadfastness. We hope that the vast knowledge and experience of these heroes in running organizations and in politics will help us all.”
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