Will reach a prisoners' swap deal with Israel, says Hamas
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Gaza: The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has pledged to reach a prisoners' swap deal with Israel to release the Palestinians in jails.
The statement was made during a rally held before the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza city. People were seen carrying photos of Palestinians still imprisoned in Israeli jails during the rally. They chanted slogans and waved Palestinian flags. Participants were calling for the release of Palestinian and Arab prisoners from Israeli prisons.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club Association, Israel has arrested 5,300 Palestinians including 111 women and 620 children in the West Bank since January 2022. Some of them are held under administrative detention and some are sentenced to life terms. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club said yesterday that the highest monthly rate of arrests was in April when Israeli occupation authorities captured 1,228 Palestinians. Forces also attacked the homes and families of the detainees. And administrative detention orders peaked in August with 272 orders. "There are currently 800 administrative detainees in Israeli jails."
The rally was to mark the sole prisoner swap deal reached between Hamas and Israel 11 years ago. In 2011, Egypt brokered a deal between the resistance movement and Tel Aviv. According to the prisoner swap, Hamas released Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit, who was taken captive in 2006. Israel released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
Hamas in 2016 said four Israeli captives are in their custody. According to Israel, two of them are already dead.