"Exile"

I interviewed the former prisoner, Ayman Sharawna, and wrote a narrative account of his experience in prison in Israel.

Ayman was released from prison in March, having been on partial hunger strike for 261 days in protest at his ongoing administrative detention. A condition for his release was that he must take up residence in the Gaza Strip, although he comes from Hebron in the West Bank. This is forcible displacement, and is illegal under international humanitarian law. Ayman is not allowed to travel to the West Bank so he is now separated from his family, and has no idea if or when he might see them and his hometown again.

We went to meet Ayman in his new apartment, which is bare except for the many plaques and ostentatious bouquets of plastic flowers which have been presented to him in appreciation of his struggle.

Enfeebled by the effects of his hunger strike, he used a Zimmer frame to come to the door to let us in. He poured us coffee and we sat together for around an hour, talking.

Ayman is a very charming and charismatic man, but the overwhelming feeling I got from him was one of loneliness. I would like to hope he will be reunited with his family soon, but that seems like an impossible dream.