On September 6, 2021, Mohammed Al-Arda (43), from the town of Arraba, south of Jenin, defied one of Israel’s most fortified prisons. Alongside his comrades, he tunnelled his way out of Gilboa Prison, escaping the grasp of occupation, if only for five days. Yet, those five days were worth a lifetime behind bars. "The air of Marj Ibn Amer was the taste of freedom itself," he recalled. Though he was recaptured, his unbreakable will remained. With the “Flood of the Free” prisoner exchange, he finally returned to his homeland, a survivor of both chains and time.

Mohammed’s life has been one of struggle and resilience. Arrested in 2002 and sentenced to three life terms plus 20 years, he endured years of solitary confinement and mistreatment. But prison did not silence him; it forged him. He became a writer, penning works on resistance and faith. In 2014, he attempted to escape once more, only to be placed in further isolation. Yet, his spirit remained unshaken, his hope intact.

Upon his release, his first moments of freedom were overwhelming. His body, weakened by years of confinement, struggled to bear the weight of his people’s love. Carried by his nephew through the crowds, he barely spoke, yet his presence alone ignited joy. As he embraced his mother for the first time in over two decades, the years of suffering seemed to vanish, if only for that moment.

Mohammed’s message is clear: freedom is inevitable. His years in prison were not just about survival but about preparing for the day he would return to his land. "We Palestinians do not seek death," he says. "We fight for life—true life, on our soil, with dignity." His journey from captivity to liberation is a testament to the resilience of a people who refuse to surrender.