Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that the Israeli occupation intelligence stormed the reception tent erected to welcome back freed Palestinian prisoner Karim Younis in the town of 'Ara in the '48 occupied territories.

The town of 'Ara in the '48 occupied territories celebrated the liberation of Karim Younis, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli prisons.

Karim Younis, free after 40 years in Israeli prisons, heads straight to his mother's grave in the town of 'Ara.#FreeThemAll#Palestine https://t.co/tv4B4XUrCF

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 5, 2023

Hundreds of Palestinians attended the festive ceremony, including liberated prisoners, freedom fighters, and political activists despite Israeli threats and warnings.

After a minute of silence to honor Palestinian martyrs and playing the national anthem, the ceremony included a speech by freed prisoner Karim Younis, as well as other speeches that highlighted the Palestinian prisoner's fight for freedom.

It is worth noting that Israeli media reported that Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke with the Israeli police commissioner on Wednesday and directed him to prevent any festive ceremonies celebrating the liberation of Karim Younis.

Karim Younis was freed on January 6, 2023, 40 years after he was first arrested in January 1983.

Earlier to his liberation, Israeli occupation police stormed the home of the prisoner's family in his village 'Ara and confiscated Palestinian flags.

The occupation police threatened his family not to show any signs of celebrations, including raising Palestinian flags or Resistance banners and posters, in addition to playing patriotic songs.

The police also confiscated all the flags and banners inside the external hall set up yesterday after the occupation refused to allow Younis' reception in a closed hall.

Upon his liberation, Karim Younis headed first to the town's cemetery to visit his mother's graves, all while projecting high morale despite the injustices of the occupation.

Younis told Al Mayadeen immediately after his release from Israeli occupation prisons, "My mother was the ambassador of all prisoners and she bore responsibilities beyond her capacity."

Speaking from the cemetery in the town of 'Ara, Younis said, "My mother chose to see me from the heavens as a freedom fighter, and my father and mother drew me a road map and inspired me in the journey of resistance."

Freed Palestinian prisoner #KarimYounis: "I am speechless, and this is the first day I see the outer world in a long time. The world now is so different from the one I once knew."#Palestine #FreeThemAll https://t.co/HCZD8gbX9Q

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 5, 2023

Karim Younis' mother died last May, after long years of waiting, a few months before her son was released.

 "I am speechless, and this is the first day I see the outer world in a long time. The world now is so different from the one I once knew," he added.