Longest-held Palestinian prisoner Karim Younis, jailed by Israel for security-related offenses, was released onThursday after 40 years behind bars.

Younis (62), who holds Israeli citizenship and is from the Arab town of ‘Ara, was convicted in 1983 along with his cousin Maher Younis, for the murder of Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980. Maher Younis is expected to be released in two weeks.

Karim Younis was freed early Thursday morning from Hadarim prison in central Israel, and driven immediately to Ra’anana Junction bus station. From there, he called relatives to come and get him, to bring him back to his home village Ara in the north of Israel. Reportedly, Israeli authorities wanted to avoid a "victory photo" of Younis exiting the prison gate, surrounded by supporters, which is why they drove him to the bus station.

Also, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke Wednesday night with Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai, ordering him to prevent any celebrations in Ara upon Younis' arrival. Reports said that Ben-Gvir had justified the order against festivities with a legal opinion that these would offer support for terrorism.