March 4, 2012

The arrest of Hana 'Shalabi, by the Zionist army two weeks ago,without proof that a criminal act has actually been committed,raises the urgent question of protection of prisoners released during the exchange operation last October, which managed to free 1,054 prisoners in exchange for the Zionist soldier Gilad Shalit, captured by the Palestinian resistance on June 25 2006, in his chariot inside the borders of Gaza.

Hana 'Shalabi was among the prisoners released.

She was arrested before she was placed under administrative detention. She was released two and a half months later, as part of this exchange transaction. A fortnight passed since she was again arrested and threatened to be placed in administrative detention. Since then, she leads a hunger strike refusing to accept the principle of arbitrary detention and the degrading treatment suffered by detainees and prisoners, especially during the arrest and interrogation in Zionist detention centers and prisons.

Hana 'Shalabi continues the struggle of the leader Adnan Khodr who on April 17, after 66 days of hunger - strike, managed to badger with the promise of his release.

Hana 'Shalabi is not the only political prisoner to be thrown back in jail after being released. During the previous months, three other political prisoners released during the prisoners swap were arrested in the region of al-Khalil - without proof that a criminal act has actually been committed.

Ayman Isma'il Sherwane, was arrested in January and placed in administrative detention for six months. Further more Ayman Abu Daoud, who was arrested in February when he just had moved the chair of the Zionist military governor to announce its presence, a ceremony in accordance to the requirement of the occupation involving all released prisoners in the West Bank, including al-Quds. And just recently, for the sixth time, Azzam Ahmad Abu Arqoub was arrested to be placed in administrative detention.

Other prisoners freed in the prisoner exchange have been threatened, and called to appear at the military posts.In the province of Nablus, a Zionist incursion took place in the house of Nassim Karkari Hilmi. A patrol of the occupant, trespassed his property, to give him summons.Furthermore, several other prisoners were forbidden to travel for medical treatment.The need for medical treatment is due to illnesses caught from being exposed to the perilous and extremely unhealthy conditions of the detention.

The Hamas politburo member, Mr. Saleh Aruri, a former political prisoner, in Hamas responsible for the issues of Palestinian detainees, has recently warned against the wave of arrests which affects the released prisoners. In a resent meeting with Egyptian officials to discuss the subject matter, since Egypt was a part of and supervised the exchange agreement, Mr. Saleh Aruri said that, there are three issues remaining that need immediate action, and that must be with the intervention of Egyptian authorities:

- the arrest of the released
- the release of prisoners
- bring an end to the isolation of resistance leaders

Ahlam Tamimi, a member of Hamas political party and one of the released prisoner which has been sentenced to 16 life-time imprisonments, recently made known to the public about the Zionists secret scheme to assassinate the released prisoners which were deported out from Palestine, in particularly those deported to Turkey.

For his part, Mr.Riad Ashkar, a researcher of the issues concerning the situation of the prisoners, said that the Zionist occupant proceeds through small steps, with the intention to inflict evil. Abduct the prisoners which was released, one by one, not to raise waves of a popular protest, or draw the attention of Arab mediators, including Egypt.Mr. Riad Ashkar appealed to Egyptian officials, asking them to without delay, enforce the terms of the agreement with the Zionist occupation forces.

The lack in responsibility of Egypt and the Palestinian Authority

It is true that the post-revolutionary Egypt has played an important role in the prisoner exchange agreement, which ended the pressure on the Palestinian resistance represented by Hamas, to allow the release of hundreds of prisoners sentenced to life-time.The previous Egyptian regime had refused to move in this direction. However there are also questions about the willingness of the new Egyptian regime to enforce this prisoner exchange agreement, which by the Zionists was violated from day one - that should be the first day of freedom from the shackles : Still after more than 4 months,not released are the prisoners included in the exchange of promises between the Palestinians, Egypt and the Zionist occupant Israel, that includes those which origin is the occupied Palestinian territories of 48.They are Wouroud and Lina Kassem Jarbouni, the first being accused of being part of the resistance representing PFLP, the second is accused of being a member of the resistance representing the Islamic Jihad movement.

Where are the actions of the Egyptian regime, the supervisor and co- signatory of the agreement, to protect the released prisoners?There is an alarming wave of arrests of Palestinian resistance fighters released in the exchange deal for the Zionist soldier Gilad Shalit,Egypt must adhere to its commitment, Egypt is a part of this agreement and has the means to enforce appropriate measures against the Zionists entity, under this agreement.

Accusations against the Islamic resistance and Hamas Movement

Some were not late to accuse the Islamic Resistance and Hamas Movement for not having participated in the negotiations which were guided by Egypt intermediary, to make sure of that the contract between Hamas ( representing the prisoners) and the Zionist occupant authorities, was a legally binding instrument in the exchange agreement,as in previous exchanges that would protect the liberated resistance fighters.These accusers forgot to consider the presence of the Ramallah PA, which obviously played a significant role, and that it is the one part that should be scrutinized and held accountable, at least for its passive role in this important internal Palestinian matter.

As for the Palestinian people in the occupied territories of 67 and 48 and in exile, the PA must take its responsibility and mobilized around the issue of prisoners.

It is true that the present functionary of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, in a visual sense of joy and happiness celebrated the release of the prisoners, which the Zionists despite their efforts have not managed to destroy. Beyond this grandeur reception, and the material aid given to the freed political prisoners and their families, the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah have not sought to ensure the protection of the released Palestinian resistance.The PA have not raised alarm on the case before the "International Community": the United Nations, or international human rights organizations, or to all foreign visitors whom frequently travels to and from Ramallah, on whom which PA relies to legitimate its international relations.

The PA ministry of prisoners (which also includes the released prisoners ),remain active and mobilized,to say the best - but it stood by, powerless to the occupants repeated abductions of its own people, watching how the conditions of detention was deteriorating. In the detainee issue and even in the issue of the released,the prisoners situation is not taken into account by the Palestinian Authority.

It has not mobilized its Embassies and International relations, it has not raised the issue before foreign visitors. Its obvious that, in the state of occupation, the Palestine authority in Ramallah, may continue its criminal policy towards its own people, without being held accountable.

Monitoring and following the events, and claiming the release of Hana 'Shalabi, and having mobilized for the prisoner Adnan Khodr (of which both belong to the Islamic Jihad movement), the prisoners movement also began a strike in support of Hana 'Shalabi, protesting against the conditions of detention.

Some analysts are predicting a revolt in the prisons of the Zionist occupant, while others believe that the explosive situation in the city of Al-Quds, is likely to ignite a new "Intifada". The about 320 prisoners who still endure administrative detention, are preparing for a strike against the courts, as a first step towards a long-term campaign against administrative detention,the most arbitrary that is used in Palestine, a country under occupation.