When one approaches the family’s house of Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Al-Arda Mahmoud’s features could be seen at every corner and it feels like he is present at the family’s gatherings where many prayers and wishes are made for his imminent release and freedom.
Palestinian elder Fathia Al-Arda Mahmoud’s mother who is known as the mother of prisoners says: “There is no prison gate that I didn’t stand in front of waiting to see my five children.” She holds her breath and sighs as she speaks adding “Praise be to Allah we are almost done 3 out of 5 of my kids were released.”
A Hero
Palestinian prisoner Mahmud Abdallah Ali a 40-year-old resident of Arrabeh village south of Jenin was arrested while still a school student by Israeli forces who raided his house when he was 13.
He was released in 1996 as part of the agreements reached between the Palestinian National Authority and the Israeli occupation. He spent two and a half years out of four in Israeli jails then.
His mother notes “I swear I didn’t have enough of him. Our joy was not complete because the occupation suddenly stormed our house and kidnapped him again on charges of killing an Israeli police officer in the Badiya district of Nablus on 9 September 1996 thus transferring him to the Jalameh Interrogation Center north of occupied Haifa and later transferring him to several prisons including Shata Beersheba Nafha and Rimon.”
Mahmoud got introduced to Saleh Tahayneh from the town of Silat al-Harthiya who managed to escape from prison carrying out several attacks against the Israeli occupation. He was assassinated in his apartment in Ramallah in mysterious circumstances. Mahmoud worked alongside him in the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement which was known as ‘Qasam’ then.
Family behind bars
The Israeli occupation forces captured five members of the Al-Arda family throughout the years of Al-Aqsa Intifada. Shaddad was arrested and released after serving four and a half years. Huda served a three and a half years sentence. She was released and married in the Gaza Strip. Ahmed who is known as ‘Shakir’ served twenty years behind bars. Radad has been serving a 20-year sentence and his family is awaiting his release a year later. Mahmoud who was sentenced to life in prison has served 25 years in jail.
The mother asserts her words by saying “May God be satisfied with him and preserve him. Mahmoud was and still religious Raouf was good at school and one of the best students. He was good towards his parents and he was the most passionate and kind-hearted among my kids.”
In his prison Mahmoud finished a bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies from the Al-Aqsa University. He received a degree in preaching he is very inclined to education and science. He spends his time teaching prisoners giving prisoners lessons and lectures. He wrote more than one pamphlet such as Al-Rawhil in which he spoke about the features of leading figures in the Muslim nation.
The mother can’t forget when an Israeli officer came to the family’s house and said to her: “He will be back in 10 minutes; we just want to chat with him.” Since then Mahmoud did not return to his home and the ten minutes extended to 25 years.
She adds “Mahmoud has a high morale and he is distinguished by his social relations with the prisoners. He is educated and follows up with the ongoing events. He is active and flexible with all prisoners around him.”
His mother has only one hope: To see her son Mahmoud before she dies and to live with him this joy and to see her grandchildren.
