6 june 2017
Israeli authorities have resentenced a Palestinian man to life in prison, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) reported on Monday, more than 30 years after he was released in a prisoner swap deal.
Yousif Hassan Ahmad Abu al-Kheir, a 74-year-old Palestinian from the coastal city of Akka in Israel, was serving a life sentence in Israeli custody for what Israeli news outlet Ynet called “serious security offenses” when he was released in 1983 as part of a prisoner swap deal between Israel and the Fateh movement, PPS said.
Following his release, Abu al-Kheir’s Israeli citizenship was revoked, and he moved to Greece.
A few years later, he started attempting to recover his Israeli citizenship in order to travel back home and live with his family. In late May, PPS said, Abu al-Kheir’s lawyer notified him that he had been allowed to return to Israel.
However, Ma’an further reports that Israeli authorities detained him when he arrived at the airport, and a special Israeli committee ruled that he serve his life sentence, 34 years after he was released.
Israeli authorities have regularly redetained Palestinians who were released during prisoner exchange deals, in violation of the agreements.
Since a 2011 prisoner swap deal in which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was exchanged against more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, Israel has initiated mass detention campaigns to bring hundreds of former prisoners back into Israeli custody.
The Hamas movement has repeatedly insisted that Israel must release all prisoners who were freed as part of the Shalit deal and have since been redetained before starting talks of a new prisoner swap deal.
According to prisoners’ rights group Addameer, 6,300 Palestinians were held in Israel as of April, 458 of whom were serving life sentences.
Yousif Hassan Ahmad Abu al-Kheir, a 74-year-old Palestinian from the coastal city of Akka in Israel, was serving a life sentence in Israeli custody for what Israeli news outlet Ynet called “serious security offenses” when he was released in 1983 as part of a prisoner swap deal between Israel and the Fateh movement, PPS said.
Following his release, Abu al-Kheir’s Israeli citizenship was revoked, and he moved to Greece.
A few years later, he started attempting to recover his Israeli citizenship in order to travel back home and live with his family. In late May, PPS said, Abu al-Kheir’s lawyer notified him that he had been allowed to return to Israel.
However, Ma’an further reports that Israeli authorities detained him when he arrived at the airport, and a special Israeli committee ruled that he serve his life sentence, 34 years after he was released.
Israeli authorities have regularly redetained Palestinians who were released during prisoner exchange deals, in violation of the agreements.
Since a 2011 prisoner swap deal in which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was exchanged against more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, Israel has initiated mass detention campaigns to bring hundreds of former prisoners back into Israeli custody.
The Hamas movement has repeatedly insisted that Israel must release all prisoners who were freed as part of the Shalit deal and have since been redetained before starting talks of a new prisoner swap deal.
According to prisoners’ rights group Addameer, 6,300 Palestinians were held in Israel as of April, 458 of whom were serving life sentences.
27 may 2017
Israeli army human resources official Moti Almoz said that Hamas Movement is getting stronger. The Israeli army and government are exerting efforts to release the soldiers imprisoned with Hamas Movement in the Gaza Strip, he said.
The Hebrew newspaper quoted on Saturday Almoz as saying that the army and the government have to return the detained soldiers to their families even if they were dead.
The war against Hamas has not finished yet as long as the soldiers are imprisoned by Hamas, he said.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, announced detaining soldier Shaul Aaron during the latest Israeli aggression on Gaza in summer 2014. Israeli authorities said that Hamas is detaining the body of another soldier called Hadar Goldin. Israel also announced the loss of soldier Avraham Mengistu who went missing one year ago after he crossed into the Gaza Strip.
The Hebrew newspaper quoted on Saturday Almoz as saying that the army and the government have to return the detained soldiers to their families even if they were dead.
The war against Hamas has not finished yet as long as the soldiers are imprisoned by Hamas, he said.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, announced detaining soldier Shaul Aaron during the latest Israeli aggression on Gaza in summer 2014. Israeli authorities said that Hamas is detaining the body of another soldier called Hadar Goldin. Israel also announced the loss of soldier Avraham Mengistu who went missing one year ago after he crossed into the Gaza Strip.
3 may 2017
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, gave Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) 24 hours to meet the demands of the Palestinian hunger striking detainees. The brigades said they will add 30 new names, every day following the time limit, to the swap deal list.
The spokesman of the Brigades Abu Obaidah said, in a televised statement on Tuesday evening, that the resistance will carry on struggle until the release of all prisoners.
He pointed out that al-Qassam Brigades along with the Palestinian people stand by the detainees’ side and support them by all means.
Abu Obaidah hailed the popular action that took place in Gaza on Tuesday in solidarity with Palestinian hunger striking captives and for lifting the Gaza siege. He called on Palestinians in the West Bank to mobilize and take to the streets on Wednesday in order to express their support and solidarity with prisoners.
Abu Obaidah’s statement came only one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first implicit admission that the Israeli soldiers who are detained in Gaza are alive. Netanyahu undertook on Monday to release his soldiers who are detained in Gaza: Hadar Golden and Oron Shaul.
The spokesman of the Brigades Abu Obaidah said, in a televised statement on Tuesday evening, that the resistance will carry on struggle until the release of all prisoners.
He pointed out that al-Qassam Brigades along with the Palestinian people stand by the detainees’ side and support them by all means.
Abu Obaidah hailed the popular action that took place in Gaza on Tuesday in solidarity with Palestinian hunger striking captives and for lifting the Gaza siege. He called on Palestinians in the West Bank to mobilize and take to the streets on Wednesday in order to express their support and solidarity with prisoners.
Abu Obaidah’s statement came only one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first implicit admission that the Israeli soldiers who are detained in Gaza are alive. Netanyahu undertook on Monday to release his soldiers who are detained in Gaza: Hadar Golden and Oron Shaul.
2 may 2017
Ismail Haneyya, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, said on Tuesday that a new prisoner exchange deal with Israel is on the table waiting for the Israeli response to the demands of the Palestinian resistance.
During his participation in a solidarity tent with the striking prisoners in Gaza, Haneyya affirmed in an exclusive statement to the PIC that the Palestinian resistance is able to make a new exchange deal.
Haneyya emphasized that the Palestinian people with all its national and Islamic factions prioritize the prisoners’ issue.
He told the PIC reporter that the national support for prisoners in their hunger strike will continue until they achieve their demands, adding that their freedom is the duty of every Palestinian, Arab and Muslim.
He appealed to the Arab and Muslim nation to stand for the Palestinian prisoners, who were thrown in prisons because they defended the nation's most important issues, and called for the need to activate the prisoners issue at all regional and international levels.
During his participation in a solidarity tent with the striking prisoners in Gaza, Haneyya affirmed in an exclusive statement to the PIC that the Palestinian resistance is able to make a new exchange deal.
Haneyya emphasized that the Palestinian people with all its national and Islamic factions prioritize the prisoners’ issue.
He told the PIC reporter that the national support for prisoners in their hunger strike will continue until they achieve their demands, adding that their freedom is the duty of every Palestinian, Arab and Muslim.
He appealed to the Arab and Muslim nation to stand for the Palestinian prisoners, who were thrown in prisons because they defended the nation's most important issues, and called for the need to activate the prisoners issue at all regional and international levels.
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to work on returning Israeli soldiers held in Gaza to their families in Israel.
Netanyahu made his remarks in a national memorial ceremony on Monday, admitting implicitly that the captive soldiers could be alive and not dead.
He stressed that he would not rest until his “precious” soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin were brought home.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, recently released a new video suggesting that Shaul and Golden missing in action during the 2014 war are alive and in its custody.
Netanyahu made his remarks in a national memorial ceremony on Monday, admitting implicitly that the captive soldiers could be alive and not dead.
He stressed that he would not rest until his “precious” soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin were brought home.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, recently released a new video suggesting that Shaul and Golden missing in action during the 2014 war are alive and in its custody.
29 apr 2017
Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman has said his government does not seek another military adventure in the Gaza Strip as long as the situation remains calm.
In press remarks to the Hebrew website Walla, Lieberman threatened that if another war was imposed on Israel by the Palestinians in Gaza, it would be the last and toughest and target all Hamas military leaders.
He claimed that Israel does not want to reoccupy Gaza and its only aim is to disarm Hamas, adding that if the Movement discarded its rockets and tunnels, the border crossings would be opened, the population’s hardships would end and a seaport would be attainable.
As for the government’s efforts to retrieve captive Israeli soldiers and citizens in Gaza, he said there is a crew commissioned to deal with the issue.
He added that the government cannot give false promises to the captives’ families, affirming the file could take years to finish.
In press remarks to the Hebrew website Walla, Lieberman threatened that if another war was imposed on Israel by the Palestinians in Gaza, it would be the last and toughest and target all Hamas military leaders.
He claimed that Israel does not want to reoccupy Gaza and its only aim is to disarm Hamas, adding that if the Movement discarded its rockets and tunnels, the border crossings would be opened, the population’s hardships would end and a seaport would be attainable.
As for the government’s efforts to retrieve captive Israeli soldiers and citizens in Gaza, he said there is a crew commissioned to deal with the issue.
He added that the government cannot give false promises to the captives’ families, affirming the file could take years to finish.
27 apr 2017
Israeli Prison Service (IPS) transferred 40 Palestinian detainees from Nafha, Rimon and Negev jails to Ohalei Kedar detention center in Beersheba.
Voice of Prisoners radio reported on Thursday that the IPS evicted Section 8 in Ohalei Kedar detention center for the transferred captives. No preparations for the new detainees were made, it pointed out.
Only four prisoners were known among the transferred captives. They are Sheikh Raed Saadi, Yusri al-Masri, Samer Issawi, and Azzam Diyab.
Voice of Prisoners radio reported on Thursday that the IPS evicted Section 8 in Ohalei Kedar detention center for the transferred captives. No preparations for the new detainees were made, it pointed out.
Only four prisoners were known among the transferred captives. They are Sheikh Raed Saadi, Yusri al-Masri, Samer Issawi, and Azzam Diyab.
25 apr 2017
Prisoner Samer al-Issawi, member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) who had waged the longest hunger strike in human history, announced on Tuesday that he and new groups of prisoners will join the Freedom and Dignity hunger strike next Thursday.
Issawi stressed in a message to the Palestinian people that the prisoners are united in their decision and determined to go on the hunger strike to clinch their fair demands.
Ibrahim Mansour, head of the DFLP Prisoners Committee, said that they were informed that new groups of prisoners from Ofer, Megiddo, Negev and Raymond prisons will join the hunger strike on Thursday including Samer al-Issawi, the hero of the "empty stomach battle" who had gone on a 277-day hunger strike and forced Israel to respond to his demands.
Mansour explained that a number of prisoners in Israeli jails decided to join the open hunger strike according to a unified national program in support for the striking prisoners against the Israel Prison Service.
He called on the media outlets to be aware of the rumors and false news published in the Israeli media about the prisoners' hunger strike in an attempt to undermine their steadfastness and break their will.
Issawi stressed in a message to the Palestinian people that the prisoners are united in their decision and determined to go on the hunger strike to clinch their fair demands.
Ibrahim Mansour, head of the DFLP Prisoners Committee, said that they were informed that new groups of prisoners from Ofer, Megiddo, Negev and Raymond prisons will join the hunger strike on Thursday including Samer al-Issawi, the hero of the "empty stomach battle" who had gone on a 277-day hunger strike and forced Israel to respond to his demands.
Mansour explained that a number of prisoners in Israeli jails decided to join the open hunger strike according to a unified national program in support for the striking prisoners against the Israel Prison Service.
He called on the media outlets to be aware of the rumors and false news published in the Israeli media about the prisoners' hunger strike in an attempt to undermine their steadfastness and break their will.
23 apr 2017
The mother of Israeli soldier Oron Shaul has expressed her confidence that her son, who was captured by Hamas fighters during the 2014 war, is still alive, rejecting an official claim classifying him as missing and killed in action.
The mother, Zehava, made her remarks one day after al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas released a video song about her son and Hadar Golden, another captive soldier.
In an interview conducted with her on Saturday by Israel’s Channel 2, she said that the government of Benjamin Netanyahu treated her disgracefully and called on the government to bring her son back.
She, however, held Netanyahu fully responsible for sending her son to Gaza and demanded him to bring him back at any price.
The mother, Zehava, made her remarks one day after al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas released a video song about her son and Hadar Golden, another captive soldier.
In an interview conducted with her on Saturday by Israel’s Channel 2, she said that the government of Benjamin Netanyahu treated her disgracefully and called on the government to bring her son back.
She, however, held Netanyahu fully responsible for sending her son to Gaza and demanded him to bring him back at any price.
7 apr 2017
The United States is hitting al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, commander Ahmad al-Ghandour with terrorism sanctions.
The State Department said it is designating Abu Anas al-Ghandour as a global terrorist. The designation freezes any assets in the U.S. and bars Americans from doing business with him.
Ghandour leads al-Qassam brigades in northern Gaza and spent years in Israeli and Palestinian Authority prisons decades ago. Israeli authorities accused him of the involvement in an attack on an Israeli military outpost on the Israel-Gaza border that killed two Israeli soldiers.
The attack led to the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The soldier was released in a 2011 prisoner swap.
He was subjected to two assassination attempts in 2002 and 2012. Ghandour is the fifth resistance official whose name is listed in the U.S. terrorism list after al-Qassam leaders: Mohammad al-Deif, Yahya al-Sinwar, Rouhi Mushtaha, and the Hamas leader Fathi Hammad.
The State Department said it is designating Abu Anas al-Ghandour as a global terrorist. The designation freezes any assets in the U.S. and bars Americans from doing business with him.
Ghandour leads al-Qassam brigades in northern Gaza and spent years in Israeli and Palestinian Authority prisons decades ago. Israeli authorities accused him of the involvement in an attack on an Israeli military outpost on the Israel-Gaza border that killed two Israeli soldiers.
The attack led to the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The soldier was released in a 2011 prisoner swap.
He was subjected to two assassination attempts in 2002 and 2012. Ghandour is the fifth resistance official whose name is listed in the U.S. terrorism list after al-Qassam leaders: Mohammad al-Deif, Yahya al-Sinwar, Rouhi Mushtaha, and the Hamas leader Fathi Hammad.
3 apr 2017
Several Israeli soldiers and reservists have sent a petition to premier Benjamin Netanyahu asking him to act to bring their captive comrades in the Gaza Strip back to their families.
According to Israel’s Channel 7, the soldiers expressed their dismay over the Israeli government’s failure to address the issue of Hadar Golden and Oron Shaul, who are held captive by the Hamas Movement’s armed wing.
They accused the Israeli army of not honoring their covenant with the families of soldiers about its obligation to retrieve soldiers captured by enemies, warning that they would not remain silent or rest until Golden and Shaul were helped return home.
The petitioners called on the government to put the issue of these two soldiers high on its agenda and pressure Hamas to release them.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, managed to capture some Israeli soldiers during the summer war of 2014.
The Brigades still refuses to confirm their number or give information about their health conditions without Israel releasing first all rejailed ex-detainees, who were freed as part of the 2011 prisoner swap deal.
According to Israel’s Channel 7, the soldiers expressed their dismay over the Israeli government’s failure to address the issue of Hadar Golden and Oron Shaul, who are held captive by the Hamas Movement’s armed wing.
They accused the Israeli army of not honoring their covenant with the families of soldiers about its obligation to retrieve soldiers captured by enemies, warning that they would not remain silent or rest until Golden and Shaul were helped return home.
The petitioners called on the government to put the issue of these two soldiers high on its agenda and pressure Hamas to release them.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, managed to capture some Israeli soldiers during the summer war of 2014.
The Brigades still refuses to confirm their number or give information about their health conditions without Israel releasing first all rejailed ex-detainees, who were freed as part of the 2011 prisoner swap deal.
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