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One thousand and twenty-seven Palestinians for one Israeli - this is the deal made between Hamas and Israel last week.
The agreement has been dubbed "the Shalit swap deal" - named after Gilad Shalit, the 25-year-old Israeli soldier who has been held in the Gaza Strip for more than five years - and will see Palestinian prisoners released in two phases.
The first phase of this "historic" deal will take place on Tuesday, when Cpl Shalit will return to his home in Mitzpe Hila in the western Galilee, to his parents Noam and Aviva and his older brother and sister.
But to where and to whom will the first batch of 477 Palestinian prisoners return? Who are the Noams and Avivas of these hundreds of Palestinians who will be released in exchange for Gilad?
Al Jazeera asks five Palestinian families to share their stories of pain, hope and waiting.
Mother of Mohammad Halabia
Mohammad Halabia, 17, student from Abu Dis, East Jerusalem
Arrest: 2009
Imprisonment: 1.5 years
Charge: Throwing a petrol bomb
"Mohammad was half-way through 11th grade when he was arrested. He was focused on school and a hard worker. He worked after school at a garage, he would just come home, eat, change and go to work. On weekends, he would work 12 hours a day to help us.
"He was arrested with a group of friends one day after going out to eat after work.
"An Israeli patrol grabbed them and took them to a military base. They abused them. During the arrest they broke Mohammad's leg, and he was on crutches for three months.
"At his trial, he was in very bad shape. His left leg was broken and they had beaten him on his right leg, too.
"The charges were trumped up and he was convicted of throwing a petrol bomb. Two months later, his cousin Mojahed was arrested on the same charge.
"Mohammad will turn 18 in 20 days, and we haven't seen his or Mojahed's name on the list of prisoners to be freed, even though Hamas said all children will be freed. So we will see.
"I can't wait to see my son freed, but if he doesn't get released earlier in this deal, I have to accept his fate.
"It must be so difficult to be in prison for two years. But there are some prisoners who have been in jail for decades. One of our neighbors has been in jail for 26 years.
"I can't describe how hard it is to be away from my son like this.
"If Mohammad has to serve a three year sentence to ensure those serving 20 years or more go free, then so be it."
Mother of Duaa Jayyousi
Duaa Jayyousi, 32, student from Tulkarem, occupied West Bank
Arrest: 2002
Imprisonment: Ten years
Charge: Transporting attacker to Netanya
"The Israelis accused Duaa of transporting an attacker to Netanya, an industrial city on the coast.
"For the first year or so after her arrest, we had no idea where she was because the Israelis didn't tell us. Since then, we have visited her whenever we could.
"It usually takes us five or six months for each permit. And sometimes after we get that permit, we get to the prison, and they turn us back and we have to start again.
"Duaa is my only daughter, I only have her and my son - who was seriously wounded by the Israelis. So you can imagine what it means to know she should be coming home soon.
"The night I heard the deal was agreed, I was skeptical ... because we had heard several times before of almost-complete deals which never happened.
"But this time, when they confirmed it, I fell on the floor and started sobbing. I was over the moon that I would be seeing Duaa again.
"She only had a semester left at An-Najah University when she was arrested. I want her to finish her degree and just live. We have had enough suffering.
"I don't know how I'll react when I see her. I might fall. We're having a party to welcome her back, but I don't know what state of mind I'll be in. Prison was so hard. I haven't touched her for ten years.
"Even when we visit, they put a barrier between us and we could only speak on the phone. They treat them very very badly in jail.
"I thank God that those who pulled this off insisted on releasing the women, and I hope soon we will see all of our prisoners free."
PHOTO CAPTION
A Palestinian man waits at the Beituniya checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah for the release of prisoners from Israeli jails October 18, 2011.
Source: Aljazeera.net
