Israel Forcibly Removes Flags from East Jerusalem Village Preparing to Receive Released Political Prisoners

In the early morning hours of Monday (17 October), Israeli border police entered the East Jerusalem village of Issawiya and removed all Palestinian, Fatah and Hamas flags hung in anticipation of tomorrow’s release of two village residents from prison as part of the Gilad Shalit deal.

Palestinian political prisoners and residents of Issawiya scheduled to be released from prison tomorrow are Samer Issawiyi, who has served 9.5 years in jail and Khaled Muheise, who has been imprisoned 26 years.

Mohammad Abu Humus, social activist and head of the Fatah party in Issawiya, noted that “it is unacceptable that the Israeli authorities are interfering in the family and village preparations to receive our political prisoners back home”.

Israel Forcibly Removes Flags from East Jerusalem Village Preparing to Receive Released Political Prisoners