Israel Re-arrests Shalit-deal Palestinians, Hunger Strikes Start

Local Editor

Over the past few weeks, the Zionist occupation regime has re-arrested five Palestinian prisoners that were freed from ‘Israeli’ jails in October and December last year under the so-called Swap Deal. The deal was mediated by Egypt to free 1,027 Palestinian inmates in exchange for Hamas-captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Female Palestinian prisoner Hana al-Shalabi is one of the re-arrested detainees. She has reportedly gone on a hunger strike since her arrest, 12 days ago. Jaber Weshah, the deputy director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, said on Sunday the Israeli move is a “violation of the norms of the exchange and I think this should be highlighted internationally and Israel should abide by the agreement.” According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, before the release of the 1,027 prisoners, about 6,000 Palestinian detainees were held in Israeli prisons. Islam Abdo, a Hamas official, called on Egypt to “oblige Israel to respect the agreement and release the prisoners and also improve the detention conditions of the other Palestinian prisoners.” Hana Shalbi, 30, said she was subjected to an embarrassing body search by a male Israeli soldier upon being detained and was assaulted when she resisted. Shalbi stated that prison authorities have put her in periodic solitary confinement as punishment for her hunger strike. This is the second high-profile hunger strike by an arrested Palestinian in recent months. Khader Adman, a senior official in the Islamic Jihad, ended a 67-day fast last week after the Zionist occupation authorities agreed to release him from administrative detention on April 17. Administrative detention involves imprisonment without trial for up to six months, and it can be extended if the courts approve. Shalbi is a resident of the West Bank village of Burkin near Jenin. She previously served 25 months under administrative detention; her detentions was repeatedly renewed. Other administrative detainees have announced their intention to refuse to appear in ‘Israeli’ military courts starting on March 1. They say the courts extend administrative detention even when lacking evidence of any involvement in terrorism by the suspects.

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River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  
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