Who is Khalida Jarrar, recently freed Palestinian prisoner?

The freed Palestinian prisoner and leader in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Khalida Jarrar, returned home following her release as part of the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal.

A prominent Palestinian politician and a former member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Jarrar has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). She was first arrested in 2015 on charges of membership in a “banned organization seeking to liberate Palestine,” according to Israeli authorities. She was released on June 3, 2016, after serving 15 months but was rearrested in the summer of 2017.

Although she regained her freedom in September 2021, Jarrar was arrested once again on Dec. 26, 2023.

In March 1989, Jarrar led one of the largest women’s marches in Palestinian history, with over 5,000 women marching from Al-Bireh to Ramallah. The march was violently dispersed by the IOF, who arrested many participants, including Jarrar. She endured physical abuse during her arrest and interrogation and was later charged with resisting the occupation and incitement.

Jarrar has dedicated much of her life to defending Palestinian prisoners, notably through her leadership role in the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. Her advocacy drew persistent harassment from "Israeli" authorities, and her husband was also detained more than 10 times.

Since the late 1990s, Jarrar has faced severe restrictions on her freedom of movement, with long-term travel bans imposed by the occupation.

Despite these challenges, Jarrar has represented Palestine on the global stage, including at the Human Rights Summit held at the Élysée Palace in France, and has participated in numerous international conferences on human rights.