Palestinian Prisoners Defeat Israel

Palestinian sources said the Zionist regime has been forced to release Ahmad al-Haj Ali, a 72-year-old representative of Hamas at the Palestinian parliament, after al-Haj went on a hunger strike for 19 days.

Al-Haj who started his hunger strike in protest at the Zionist regime's "administrative detention" in mid March is due to be released on April 6.

Last month, a member of the Islamic Jihad placed in "administrative detention", Khader Adnan, ended a 66-day hunger strike after the Israeli authorities agreed to release him on 17 April.

Also a Palestinian woman prisoner who had been on hunger strike for more than 40 days was recently released by the Israeli authorities and exiled to Gaza.

Hana Shalabi, a 30-year-old supporter of Islamic Jihad, was placed in "administrative detention" in February because she was only deemed as a security risk without any proof or evidence to corroborate the claim.

She ended her hunger strike, in protest at being held without trial, in return for being sent to Gaza for three years.

Ms Shalabi will then be allowed to return home to Jenin, in the West Bank.

Israel had previously detained Ms Shalabi for 25 months, but released her in October under a deal that saw Hamas free the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

She was re-arrested on 16 February, allegedly for involvement in planned attacks by Islamic Jihad, Israeli officials said, but not charged.

Her family said she had not been active in Islamic Jihad since October.

Ms Shalabi was greeted by dozens of Islamic Jihad and Hamas supporters on arrival in the Gaza Strip via the Erez crossing on Sunday, after a tearful farewell with family members on the Israeli side.

However, Islamic Jihad said the welcome was subdued because her expulsion from the West Bank was a "war crime".

"My feeling of freedom is mixed with pain because I am leaving my family and town," Ms Shalabi told the al-Quds radio station. "God willing, we will gain freedom and all prisoners will be free."

She was later taken to hospital in Gaza City for medical checks.

The deal that saw Ms Shalabi end her hunger strike on 29 March was widely criticized.

The Palestinian prisoners' affairs ministry said she had been forced to accept the deportation, while the Palestinian prisoner support group Addameer and Israel's Physicians for Human Rights warned that "aspects" of the deal were "fundamentally at odds with international law".

"With no guarantees that she or her family will be permitted to travel, her expulsion could essentially become an extension of her previous isolation from her home and family while in prison," a joint statement said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had facilitated the meeting between Ms Shalabi and her family at the Erez crossing "on purely humanitarian grounds".

"However, the organization urges the Israeli authorities to comply with international humanitarian law... which prohibits Israel, whatever its motives, from forcibly transferring Palestinians to another territory," it added.

The End
Source: Fars News Agency

Palestinian sources said the Zionist regime has been forced to release Ahmad al-Haj Ali, a 72-year-old representative of Hamas at the Palestinian parliament, after al-Haj went on a hunger strike for 19 days. Al-Haj who started his hunger strike in protest at the Zionist regime's "administrative detention" in mid March is due to be released on April 6. Last month, a member of the Islamic Jihad placed in "administrative detention", Khader Adnan, ended a 66-day hunger strike after the Israeli authorities agreed to release him on 17 April. Also a Palestinian woman prisoner who had been on hunger strike for more than 40 days was recently released by the Israeli authorities and exiled to Gaza. Hana Shalabi, a 30-year-old supporter of Islamic Jihad, was placed in "administrative detention" in February because she was only deemed as a security risk without any proof or evidence to corroborate the claim. She ended her hunger strike, in protest at being held without trial, in return for being sent to Gaza for three years. Ms Shalabi will then be allowed to return home to Jenin, in the West Bank. Israel had previously detained Ms Shalabi for 25 months, but released her in October under a deal that saw Hamas free the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. She was re-arrested on 16 February, allegedly for involvement in planned attacks by Islamic Jihad, Israeli officials said, but not charged. Her family said she had not been active in Islamic Jihad since October. Ms Shalabi was greeted by dozens of Islamic Jihad and Hamas supporters on arrival in the Gaza Strip via the Erez crossing on Sunday, after a tearful farewell with family members on the Israeli side. However, Islamic Jihad said the welcome was subdued because her expulsion from the West Bank was a "war crime". "My feeling of freedom is mixed with pain because I am leaving my family and town," Ms Shalabi told the al-Quds radio station. "God willing, we will gain freedom and all prisoners will be free." She was later taken to hospital in Gaza City for medical checks. The deal that saw Ms Shalabi end her hunger strike on 29 March was widely criticized. The Palestinian prisoners' affairs ministry said she had been forced to accept the deportation, while the Palestinian prisoner support group Addameer and Israel's Physicians for Human Rights warned that "aspects" of the deal were "fundamentally at odds with international law". "With no guarantees that she or her family will be permitted to travel, her expulsion could essentially become an extension of her previous isolation from her home and family while in prison," a joint statement said. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had facilitated the meeting between Ms Shalabi and her family at the Erez crossing "on purely humanitarian grounds". "However, the organization urges the Israeli authorities to comply with international humanitarian law... which prohibits Israel, whatever its motives, from forcibly transferring Palestinians to another territory," it added. The End Source: Fars News Agency