The family of the prisoner along with dozens of citizens came in procession of cars in the morning at Jabara checkpoint east of Tulkarem and waited for long hours before they took Safadi back to his hometown Nablus where a ceremony was held to celebrate his release.

The prisoner told a news conference following his release that he earned his freedom after a long battle of steadfastness and days of hunger strike.

“Freedom can only be taken forcibly from the occupation which understands nothing but the language of force,” he told journalists.

For its part, Hamas Movement congratulated the prisoner, his family and the Palestinian people on his release from Israeli jails.

“As we, in Hamas, are sharing this joy with our people and brave prisoners, we warn the Zionist occupation of the consequences of its persistence in its violations and crimes against our heroic prisoners and emphasize that their liberation will remain our top priority until they enjoy freedom on the soil of their homeland,” Hamas stressed in a press release.

Safadi went on long hunger strike twice after he was jailed on June 30, 2011, the first time was for 73 days and the second time was for 95 days

(www.palestine-info.co.uk / 30.10.2012)