Israel releases nine-month-pregnant Palestinian prisoner after outcry, but she remains under house arrest

A pregnant Palestinian woman imprisoned by Israel was released under specific terms on Thursday.

Nine-month-pregnant Anhar Al-Deek is to be confined to house arrest and be subject to bail equivalent to $12,500, Palestine's official Wafa news agency reported.

This decision came from the Ofer military court, part of the military judicial system Israel uses for Palestinians in the lands it occupies, according to the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees' Affairs (CDA).

The Israeli authorities let the detainee go at their military's Salem checkpoint, near Jenin.

At that time, she explained, according to The New Arab's Arabic sister service: "There have been difficult moments, imagining how my baby would be with me in the cell, living the suffering that I live, and away from his father.

"There have been times of oppression and deprivation, especially since I have a one-year-old girl. These are some of the hardest moments I can remember."

Al-Deek explained: "All words fail to thank all those who were in solidarity with my cause and called for me to be released.

"For my part, I urge all possible efforts be made to free all the men and women detainees in the occupation's prisons."

The 26-year-old woman, who will be staying in Kafr Nima, the village near Ramallah where her family lives, learned she was to be let go from the television at Damon Prison.

After being released, Al-Deek was met by local officials and brought to Jenin's Doctor Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital by the Red Crescent.

After staff had checked her condition out, she was taken to Kafr Nima.

Despite being sent home on Thursday, Jamil Saadeh, the CDA's deputy legal department chief, told Wafa legal proceedings will continue.

A court date has been arranged for 22 November, though a lawyer may be permitted to go without her, as is common for bailed Palestinians, according to Saadeh.

He also said she will be permitted to leave her family residence to receive healthcare.

"What should I do if I give birth far from you? I am tied up, how can I give birth via cesarean section when I am alone in prison?" wrote the imprisoned Anhar Al-Deek.https://t.co/RIrL3hJoOE

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) September 2, 2021

Al-Deek was first detained by Tel Aviv on International Women's Day in March, and recently made headlines as campaigners fought to see her free from detention.

She was only able to see her husband once during her detention, Anadolu Agency said.

Tel Aviv alleges she tried to stab someone at an illegal settlement.

She recently called for global efforts to be made to get her out of jail before she gives birth and penned a message to her relatives, Wafa reported.

 "What should I do if I give birth far from you? I am tied up, how can I give birth via caesarean section when I am alone in prison?", it read.

Despite the military prosecution Palestinians, including children, in the West Bank face, illegal Israeli settlers living in the same territories are tried under civil law.