By Eid Yasin

QALQILYA, April 17, 2018 (WAFA) – Khitam Mahmoud Ju’aidy was eagerly waiting for April 15 to come as it was the date set for the release of her imprisoned son. Unfortunately, she didn’t live long enough to see her son, who was released from Israeli prison the day before she died following a long illness.

Ju’aidy, 53, from the city of Qalqilya in the north of the occupied West Bank, was pronounced dead at Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem on Monday morning, one day after he son, Abdallah Odeh, was released from prison after serving three years for resisting the Israeli occupation.

She was able to briefly speak to her son on the phone but didn’t get a chance to see him because she was in Jerusalem and her son couldn’t travel to Jerusalem, which is locked to Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza unless they have a permit.

Samer, Abdullah’s brother, told WAFA that the passing of his mother only one day after his brother was released left a great grief and sadness in the family because she didn’t live long enough to see him and hug him as she wished.

“She was always wishing and anxiously waiting for Abdullah’s return,” he said. “She asked us to turn the day of his release into a day of joy and celebration and she got what she wished for.”

Ju’aidy was taken to Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem five days ago following severe deterioration in her health. She was getting treatment at Qalqilya hospital for a disease she has had for 10 years. Her health,  nevertheless, quickly deteriorated until she was pronounced dead at Makassed Hospital on Monday.

Abdullah will be able to see her, kiss her and hug her after her body is returned to her home, but she won‘t be able to do the same for him.

K.T./M.K.