Father welcomes his imprisoned son home in the West Bank

The father spent days glued to his television screen, anxiously watching the news to see if his 17-year-old son would be among those released from an Israeli prison as part of the deal struck last week between the Israeli government and Hamas Closed.

The deal offered a glimmer of hope to the father, Ziad Dawoud, 53, who had not seen his son in almost a year since he was arrested for throwing stones at Israeli soldiers during a raid on their neighborhood, he said. Israeli authorities say his son was arrested in connection with his ties to Hamas, according to a prisoner list published by the Israeli government.

Then late Saturday afternoon, the name of his son, Tariq Dawoud, appeared on the screen among a list of prisoners expected to be released that day. Mr. Dawoud jumped into his car and raced from their hometown of Qalqiliya, a city in the northwest of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, about two hours to Ramallah, where hundreds waited outside Ofer prison for release.

Crowds have gathered in Ramallah for days to welcome Palestinian prisoners and detainees released in exchange for hostages held by Hamas. Tariq Dawoud belonged to the second group, it was announced on Saturday.

Another 39 Palestinians in custody were released on Sunday, according to Israel’s prison service. After their release, hundreds of people crowded around them, they were hoisted into the air and carried to a central square in Ramallah.

A feeling of pure relief washed over Mr. Dawoud and his son stepped off the bus carrying prisoners early Sunday morning, he said. The two hugged and the younger Dawoud went to kiss his father’s feet as a sign of respect, but his father refused to allow him to do so.

“I said to him, ‘Oh my son, my love,’” the father recalled in a telephone interview.

The two drove back to Qalqiliya, both still in disbelief. When they arrived at their home at dawn, dozens of relatives and friends rushed to greet the younger Dawoud. They then paraded him through the neighborhood in a motorcade of fifteen cars, honking and hollering to announce his triumphant return.

“I couldn’t believe it, it felt like I was dreaming,” the younger Dawoud said in a telephone interview on Sunday evening.

“I still haven’t slept,” he added. “I’m almost delirious.”