Youngest Former Palestinian Prisoner Martyred in Gaza Strip
According to the English section of webangah News Agency,citing Al Mayadeen via Mehr News Agency,16 Palestinians were killed at dawn on saturday in Israeli air and artillery strikes across Gaza Strip. The bombings targeted various locations including residential buildings and refugee tents in Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis.
Among the martyrs was Youssef al-Zaq, recognized as the youngest former prisoner worldwide. He died when his family’s apartment on Al-Thawra Street in central gaza City was bombed.
Youssef was born inside an Israeli prison in 2008.His name is closely linked to his mother, Fatima al-Zaq, a Palestinian detainee who gave birth to him behind prison bars amid arduous conditions.
Israeli occupation forces arrested Fatima al-Zaq at Beit Hanoun crossing on May 20, 2007. She completed her pregnancy under harsh physical and psychological conditions without proper medical care while shackled by hands and feet inside prison.She delivered her son in an israeli hospital under these constraints.
In October 2009, Youssef and his mother were released in a prisoner exchange deal that saw the release of 20 female Palestinian prisoners in return for video proof of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Earlier, Youssef told Al-Alam: “When I was freed from prison I was one year and nine months old; now I am fifteen years old. My message to the enemy is that I resisted you when I was little-and God willing-I will continue resisting as an adult until we liberate our occupied lands.”
