By Meredith Lee-Clark
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
GAZA CITY, Gaza – Amid the stalemate in prisoner-swap negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the ruling party in the Gaza Strip, a Hamas spokesman has advocated abducting more Israeli soldiers as part of a strategy to “force the hand” of the Israelis.
The statement from Hamas came as Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody enter their second week of a prison strike. The prisoners are demanding equal treatment between Palestinians and Israeli prisoners in Israeli-run prisons.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said on April 8 that Palestinians must support the prisoners’ strike, adding that “Palestinians who seek justice for prisoners may be obliged to search for new friends for Gilad Shalit,” referring to the Israeli soldier who has been held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since June 2006, and who has been the focal point of the prisoner swap negotiations.
While the Hamas rhetoric ramped up, militants in Gaza fired rockets across the border into southern Israel, where an Israeli Defense Forces patrol was reportedly hit, though no injuries were reported. The rocket fire came within twenty-four hours after Palestinians reported that six mortar shells were fired at Israel, but landed in Gaza, short of their target, and injured six Gazans. Hamas has asserted it is not responsible for the rocket fire, and says that it is working to stop the rocket attacks.
“The government in Gaza is in charge of the situation, and it does know clearly who launches the rockets,” said Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha to the BBC. “It is working hard to deter any faction from acting individually.”
Meanwhile, Hamas has come under international criticism for officially reinstating the death penalty after a five-year hiatus. Human Rights Watch called on Hamas to rescind its announcement that it would once again execute criminals by hanging or firing squad. In its statement, Human Rights Watch argued that the death sentences imposed by the Hamas military courts violated fair trial standards. Most of those who have been executed in the past have been members of the rival Fatah political party, or those who have been accused of collaborating with Israel. Human Rights Watch reports that many political prisoners in Gaza are not allowed access to lawyers until after interrogation, and that judges selectively allow defense counsel to present evidence at trial.
For more information, please see:
Ma’an News Agency – Amid Jail Strike, Hamas Urges More Soldier Abductions – 9 April 2010
Associated Press – Hamas in Gaza Takes Steps to Carry Out Executions – 8 April 2010
Ha’aretz – Hamas: We Will Abduct Israelis Over Maltreatment of Palestinian Prisoners – 8 April 20101
Human Rights Watch – Gaza: Do Not Resume Executions – 6 April 2010
