By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On October 2, an Israeli bus drove to the Erez border crossing and released 29 Palestinians who were, until recently, held in Israeli prisons.  These prisoners were the first to return to Gaza since Hamas took over in June.  These prisoners join 57 others who were released into the West Bank on October 1.

The release of the Gaza prisoners was scheduled for October 1 but was delayed.  The delay was blamed on a variety of reasons; the most frequently cited reason is that President Peres did not sign their pardons.  There are rumors of conflict between Prime Minister Olmert and various Israeli officials, including Israeli Defense Force Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi.  Ashkenazi allegedly sent a letter to Peres and other members of the Israeli government, stating that it was immoral to release the prisoners while Gaza militants refused to release Gilad Schalit, an Israeli soldier captured during a cross-border raid last year.

None of the prisoners released had “blood on their hands;” referring to the fact that none of the prisoners were convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis.  Prior to release, the prisoners had to sign an agreement not to engage in terrorists attacks against Israel.  On September 30, the Israeli Supreme Court decline to grant a request by the Almagor Terror Victims Association to delay the release.  According to Almagor, there are dozens of documented cases in which freed prisoners return to active terrorism.

A majority of those released were members of Abbas’ Fatah party; none were members of Hamas.  One individual scheduled for release was kept after Israeli officials discovered that he was a member of Hamas.  It is said that Israel’s purpose behind the release was to bolster support for Abbas and the Fatah party. Prisoner release is a central demand of Palestinian leaders in any future peace agreement with Israel.

Over 11,000 Palestinians are currently in Israeli prisons.  Many are minors (under 18 years old) and/or women.  Also, many are detained without formally being charged with any crime.  The UN estimates that Israeli troops detain an average of 101 new Palestinians per month.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Shooting mars Gaza prisoner release – 2 October 2007

Associated Press – Israel completes release of 86 prisoners – 2 October 2007

BCC – Israel frees Gaza Strip detainees – 2 October 2007

Ha’aretz – Olmert denies tension with Ashkenazi over prisoner release – 2 October 2007

New York Times – Israel completes prisoner release as it frees 29 – 2 October 2007

Yedoith News – Barak: Chief of Staff’s reservations over prisoner release legitimate – 2 October 2007

Arutz Sheva – 87 terrorists being released today – 1 October 2007

Guardian – Israel frees 57 Palestinians – 1 October 2007

Middle East Times – Israel releases 57 Palestinian prisoners – 1 October 2007