JERUSALEM, Sunday, November 26, 2023 (WAFA) – Aref Hammad, the grandfather of Nofooth Hammad, a 16-year-old Jerusalemite detainee who was supposed to be among those released from Israeli jails in the Gaza-truce swap deal, expressed fear over her fate after she never arrived home and has not been heard from or seen since Friday; the day when she was scheduled to be released as part of the first batch of 39 prisoners.

The grandfather voiced grave concern over the fate of his 16-year-old grandchild after lawyers failed to determine her whereabouts, following several testimonies by several other female prisoners who were also being released as part of the first batch on Friday that she was seen among them when they were gathered at the Al-Masqoubiyeh Israeli detention center in Jerusalem in preparation for their release.

The prisoners affirmed that Nofooth was taken by Israeli officers from the area where they were rounded up before their release and that she was taken to an unknown destination.

Concerns raised by the grandfather came after lawyers informed the family that their teenage daughter, Nofooth, was subjected to physical attack and beatings by the Israeli occupation forces after she was taken.

The grandfather said that Nofooth never showed up on Friday, the day she was supposed to be released and that her family waited for her arrival yesterday until after midnight, but she never came home.

He said that Nofooth’s name was not even included in the list of prisoners scheduled to be released tonight as part of the third group of 39 prisoners; all male teenagers.

Lawyers have failed since early morning today to obtain any information about Nofooth and affirmed that they received information that she was beaten by Israeli soldiers and transferred to a hospital as a result, said the grandfather.

Nofooth, a 16-year-old teenager, was detained two years ago, and sentenced to 12 years in Israeli jails, plus a fine of approximately $15,000, suspended for three years.

T.R.