The Israeli government and the Palestinian movement Hamas today began implementing their agreement to release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one captured Israeli soldier. Meanwhile, PFLP leader Ahmad Saadat has been taken to Al Ramla Prison hospital due to health complications following 20 days of hunger strike.
This news came as the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) promised to end the policy of isolation of Palestinian political prisoners in its jails, following today’s prisoner swap, according to Issa Qaraqi, Minister of Prisoners in the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority. In response, Palestinian hunger strikers have suspended their actions.
Prisoners exchange deal
Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association and Al-Haq write in a comment on the prisoners exchange deal:
Only 27 of the total 35 women currently held in Israeli prisons were included in the first list of prisoners to be released, despite agreement by Israel that all female political prisoners would be included in the exchange. Crucially, of the first 477 prisoners to be released, 205 of them will not be reunited with their families as their release has been made contingent on their deportation or transfer, both of which are in violation of international law. Of the West Bank prisoners, including East Jerusalemites, 18 will be transferred to the Gaza Strip for a period of three years while an additional 146 will be forcibly relocated there on a permanent basis. A further 41 prisoners, including one woman, will be deported outside of the oPt, to as-of-yet unknown third countries.
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