Amidst the release of 642 Palestinian prisoners by Israeli occupation authorities on Thursday, one figure stands out as a symbol of unwavering resistance: Ammar al-Zaben.

Sentenced to 27 life terms in 1998, al-Zaben, a commander in the Qassam Brigades, spent 26 years of his life unjustly imprisoned. Accused of orchestrating attacks in Jerusalem, his real crime was his dedication to the liberation of his people.

Despite the brutal conditions of his incarceration, al-Zaben refused to be broken. He transformed his prison cell into a center of learning, earning degrees in political science and penning six powerful novels that chronicled the Palestinian struggle.

Born in Nablus in 1975, al-Zaben's life was shaped by generations of resistance against the occupation. He was first detained as a child in 1992, and his longest imprisonment began in 1998 after he was accused of planning operations to free fellow Palestinian detainees.

The price of his resistance was immense: multiple life sentences, relentless torture, and the loss of both parents while behind bars. Yet, his spirit remained unbroken, and his words escaped the prison walls, inspiring a generation of Palestinians.

His literary works, such as "When the Oranges Bloom" (2011) and "Behind the Lines" (2015), became powerful tools of resistance, documenting the resilience of Palestinian detainees and the heroic struggles against the occupation.

Ammar al-Zaben's release is a victory for the Palestinian people, a testament to the enduring spirit of resistance in the face of oppression. He returns to his homeland not as a defeated man, but as a hero, his voice amplified by years of unjust imprisonment. (ILKHA)