GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — A number of Palestinian inmates at Gaza Central Prison in western Gaza City were allowed to connect March 21, via Facebook video calls, with family members residing outside the Gaza Strip and with whom they had not been in touch for years.

In cooperation with the Gaza Central Prison, the Interior Ministry and the General Administration of Prisons launched a campaign allowing 10 inmates serving long prison sentences to make video calls and check on family members who have been unable to visit for years.

The contacting of family members outside Gaza via Facebook is part of a process introduced by the Interior Ministry and the General Administration of Prisons to help alleviate the suffering of inmates unable to see their children, wives and parents. The programs introduced also include sports and social activities, 

Capt. Mohammed Rujaila, the public relations and communications officer at Gaza Central Prison, told Al-Monitor, “As we are keen about their rehabilitation and rectifying their conduct, we are offering the inmates many facilities. This includes the possibility of communicating online with family members living abroad to check on and catch up with them.”