Palestinian political prisoner Hassan Arar, 44, learned only minutes after his release on Thursday that both of his parents had died during his 22-year-long imprisonment.

Arar, from Ramallah, was reportedly unaware that his parents and two of his siblings had passed away while he remained behind bars.

Following his release from Gilboa Prison, Arar was transferred to a hospital for medical treatment after sustaining injuries reportedly caused by beatings during his detention.

When he was informed that his parents had died, the newly released prisoner broke down in tears, confronting the devastating loss of family members he had been unable to see for more than two decades.

Arar’s case highlights the profound personal toll of prolonged imprisonment on Palestinian detainees and their families, particularly those held in isolation from the outside world.

More than 9,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, according to Palestinian sources. Conditions inside the facilities have drawn growing international concern, particularly since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over alleged mistreatment, isolation, inadequate medical care and other violations affecting Palestinian prisoners.

Detainees held in solitary confinement face especially severe restrictions on communication with the outside world. As a result, some prisoners remain unaware for long periods when relatives die, families are displaced or major events occur in their communities.

Arar’s experience underscores the devastating consequences of such isolation, as he emerged from more than two decades in captivity only to learn that several members of his immediate family had died while he was imprisoned.

His release has once again drawn attention to the plight of Palestinian prisoners and the impact of prolonged detention on both detainees and their families. (ILKHA)