Mohamad Al-Assi, 27, completed the race through Bethlehem and nearby Palestinian refugee camps after rebuilding his strength following more than two and a half years in Israeli detention, where he said poor prison conditions severely weakened his physical condition.

The annual Palestine Marathon, held for the first time in three years, drew thousands of participants and international solidarity runners at a time when many cultural festivals and public gatherings across the West Bank have been canceled or reduced because of the war in Gaza and tighter Israeli movement restrictions.

The marathon route wound through Bethlehem, passing stretches of the concrete barrier separating Israel from the West Bank before looping twice through narrow streets and nearby agricultural areas because runners cannot complete a standard marathon course without encountering Israeli checkpoints or military gates.

Organizers said the event was designed to draw attention to movement restrictions faced by Palestinians in the West Bank, where checkpoints, military closures and expanding Israeli settlements have increasingly constrained daily travel and access to open land.

Al-Assi, who lives in the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, said his training routine was repeatedly interrupted by Israeli military operations in the area. He resumed running in December after his release and gradually increased his training distances, according to his account on the fitness tracking application Strava.

“The main difficulties we face are the cars on the roads and the presence of Israeli security forces along the route where I train,” Al-Assi said.He was arrested in April 2023 and initially held under Israel’s administrative detention system, which permits authorities to detain individuals for renewable periods without formal charges.

Palestinian rights organizations and Israeli human rights groups say between 3,000 and 4,000 Palestinians are currently being held under the system.In October 2023, Al-Assi was convicted on charges related to transferring money to suspicious entities, allegations he denies.

Israeli authorities closely scrutinize financial transfers linked to Gaza and Palestinian organizations over concerns funds could reach militant groups. Israel’s military, Shin Bet internal security agency and Prison Service did not comment on his case.Al-Assi said inadequate prison diets and prolonged detention significantly reduced his endurance and muscle mass after years of competitive training.

“I was emotionally shattered after spending such a long period in prison,” he said.The atmosphere in Bethlehem contrasted sharply with the broader regional tensions surrounding the war in Gaza and the fragile ceasefire efforts underway there. Crowds gathered near the Church of the Nativity before sunrise as drummers and bagpipers accompanied runners through the city’s streets.

Parallel events were also held in Gaza, including shorter races involving amputees and disabled runners in Nuseirat in central Gaza. Participants said the events reflected an effort to restore a sense of normalcy after more than two years of conflict and destruction.After crossing the finish line, Al-Assi collapsed to his knees and dedicated his performance to Palestinians still being held in Israeli prisons.

Qusai Rayyan, 29, was shot and arrested by Israeli forces during a raid in Salfit Governorate in the northwestern West Bank on April 15, amid continuing Israeli operations across the territory that authorities say are aimed at addressing security threats.

The Palestinian Ministry of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees Affairs said Rayyan had undergone several surgeries at Beilinson Hospital in northern Israel following the shooting, but remained unconscious and his condition continued to deteriorate.

The ministry said Israeli authorities had informed them that he would be released, though no specific date was immediately provided.

The development was also reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA.Israeli forces have carried out near-daily raids across the West Bank since the escalation of the Gaza war, conducting arrests and house searches targeting individuals suspected of militant activity or political involvement.

Palestinian officials and human rights groups have raised growing concerns over the treatment of detainees, particularly those injured during arrests and those held without formal charges.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 40 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers or soldiers in the occupied West Bank since January.

Palestinian authorities also say Israeli security forces continue to withhold the bodies of dozens of Palestinians killed during military raids since October 2023, a practice that has drawn criticism from families and legal advocacy groups.

The number of detainees reported to have died in Israeli custody since October 2023 has surpassed 100, according to Palestinian officials. Of those, 84 have been publicly identified, including 50 detainees from Gaza.

The broader issue of detainee treatment remains one of the most sensitive aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly as violence in the West Bank has intensified alongside the war in Gaza.

Neither Israeli military authorities nor prison officials immediately issued public comment on Rayyan’s condition or the reasons for his release.

The plan, reportedly backed by US President Donald Trump and coordinated with Egypt and Qatar, outlines a phased truce that would begin with the release of 28 Israeli hostages—both alive and deceased—within the first week. In exchange, Israel would release 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with the return of the remains of 180 Palestinians killed during the conflict.

According to the proposal, humanitarian aid shipments would begin flowing into the besieged Gaza Strip immediately upon Hamas’ endorsement of the ceasefire agreement.

The next stage of the plan includes the release of the remaining 30 Israeli hostages after a permanent ceasefire is secured. The White House confirmed Thursday that Israel has agreed to the terms outlined in the proposal, marking a potential breakthrough in negotiations that have remained stalled for months.

Deep Disputes Remain

Hamas, which has been reviewing the proposal, is expected to issue a response by Friday or Saturday. Despite hopes of progress, significant gaps remain between both sides.

Israel has maintained that it will not agree to a permanent ceasefire unless Hamas is fully dismantled and disarmed, and all hostages are returned. Hamas, however, has consistently rejected demands to surrender its weapons and has insisted on a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war.

War’s Heavy Toll

The conflict began after Hamas launched a surprise assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel initiated a massive military campaign in Gaza that has since claimed the lives of more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The war has devastated Gaza, leaving large swathes in ruins and displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians. Humanitarian organizations continue to warn of catastrophic conditions, especially amid limited access to medical care, clean water, and essential supplies.

Next Steps

While the US proposal marks one of the most detailed plans for a cessation of hostilities to date, success hinges on Hamas’ acceptance and the ability of mediators to bridge the core disagreements. International observers are watching closely to see whether this ceasefire plan will finally bring an end to one of the deadliest conflicts in the region’s recent history.