Israel violates prisoner release deal, Palestine claims
The head of the Palestinian Commission on Prisoners, Kadura Fares, said that the Jewish state does not follow the principle that priority in line for release should be given to those who have been detained the longest
NEW YORK, November 25. /TASS/. The Israeli authorities violate the agreement on the release of Palestinian prisoners by not following the principle saying that the first prisoners to be released must be the ones who spent in detention the longest, says Qadura Fares, head of the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs.
"There are indications of a possible crisis regarding the list of names announced by Israel due to Israel's failure to adhere to the agreed-upon criterion of seniority in the deal," Fares said, according to CNN.
On November 22, the Hamas announced the agreement with Israel, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, on a four-day humanitarian ceasefire. The agreement implies the release of 50 women, children and teenagers held captive in the enclave in exchange for 150 women and teenagers, held in Israeli prisons. The ceasefire has entered into effect on November 24.
On Friday, the Palestinian radicals released 13 Israelis, including 4 children. In exchange, Israel agreed to release 39 Palestinians - 24 women and 15 teenagers, based on the three-for-one formula. In addition, the Israeli authorities claimed that 11 foreigners, not covered by the deal, were released as well.