40 hours before his release, Israeli occupation isolates Maher Younis

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen net
17 Jan 2023 14:58

Palestinian Muhjat Al-Quds Foundation says the Israeli occupation aims to deprive Younis of his liberation joy.

Palestinians awaiting Maher Younis to be free

Muhjat Al-Quds Foundation reported on Tuesday that the Israeli occupation transferred the prisoner Maher Younis (65 years old) to an unknown destination 40 hours prior to his scheduled release, after spending 40 years in captivity.

The Foundation added that the occupation aims, by transferring Younis to an unknown destination, to prevent him from celebrating his freedom among his fellow Palestinian prisoners and deprive him of his freedom joy.

Within the same context, the Israeli occupation prisons administration informed the prisoner, Maher Younis, that he would be transferred from Al-Naqab prison for investigation, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

إدارة سجون الاحتلال تنقل بشكل مفاجئ الأسير ماهر يونس من سجن النقب إلى جهة مجهولة قبل الإفراج عنه بـ 40 ساعة بعد قضاء 40 عامًا في الأسر، وذلك للتنغيص عليه وكسر فرحة الأسرى والاحتفال بتحرره.. pic.twitter.com/j34VX2JMaq
— ق.ض 𓂆 (@jalestinian) January 17, 2023

The Club indicated that Younis was transferred during this month also for investigation in "Megiddo" prison, although he is scheduled to be freed on Thursday after spending over 40 years in Israeli occupation prisons.

The town of 'Ara in the '48 occupied territories is preparing to receive the freed prisoner.

On his part, the brother of the prisoner, Nader Younis (63 years), said in a phone call with the Palestinian agency Wafa that the Israeli occupation police visited the prisoner's house this morning, took pictures of it, and warned him (Nader) against setting up reception tents or raising the Palestinian flag.

"We will fulfill our duty toward our people. We will receive them and respect everyone who comes to congratulate us on the liberation of our brother and son [of the nation] Maher. We will prepare food and sweets, ignoring the threats of the occupation that wants to spoil our joy after a 40-year-long wait."

He was arrested at 23 years old and has spent his entire youth in prison. He was even prevented from seeing his family for a long time.

Younis submitted a petition to see his dying father in 2008, which the occupation rejected, so his father passed away without Maher getting to see him after decades of being unable to, noting that his father was also a former prisoner who spent 8 years in Israeli occupation prisons.

It is noteworthy that Younis was arrested on January 18, 1983, for resisting the occupation and his affiliation with the Fatah movement, shortly after his cousin Karim Younis was arrested, in addition to their companion Sami Younis, who was released in a prisoner exchange deal in 2011.

While in prison, Maher Younis was subjected to a harsh investigation, and the occupation sentenced him to death, and after a month of his sentencing, it was changed to life imprisonment.