Israeli Intelligence Suggests Exile of a Number of Prisoners

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IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian news agency, Ma’an reported on Thursday that Nizar Mahagneh, the lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoners Club was able to visit many Palestinian prisoners in interrogation centers in which they have been detained for more than a month.

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The lawyer met Samer Shrokh, an ex-detainee who was accused of opening fire at three Israeli settlers at the Israeli crossing, Mitar in the southern part of Hebron.

He met also Nabil Harb who was interrogated at the beginning of his detention in the charge of opening fire at the three Israeli settlers at the Israeli crossing, Mitar in the southern part of Hebron. He was moved to many unknown interrogation centers.

The lawyer was able also to meet Ala’ Gabareen and Muhammad Nasrallah from Hebron, both accused of helping the aforementioned detainees in shooting the three settlers. Their detention period was extended and their files were moved to the military court, Offer.

The lawyer highlighted a serious issue that an Israeli intelligence major has repeatedly suggested the idea of exiling those detained and their families.

The State of Israel has used this policy of “exile” significantly in the past; prisoners are both internally displaced within the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as sent into external exile.

The most recent case has been that of Akram Anteer. Anteer was imprisoned at a detention facility in the Negev, but was given permission to travel initially to Jordan, and then onto Spain for medical treatment following his diagnosis of cancer.

Anteer has subsequently been informed that he has been exiled and will not be permitted to return to the Palestinian Territories. He has stated his intention to travel to Algeria upon completion of his treatment..

Israel is still threatening another fifteen prisoners with exile under claims that they do not have Palestinian passports, although they all have Palestinian identity cards and have been lived in the West Bank for long period with their families.

This use of exile in this manner is a war crime under the fourth Geneva Convention. Under article 49, those classified as protected persons, i.e. those living under occupation, may not be transferred, either individually or en masse, outside the boundaries of their territory. Palestinians consider the threat of exile to themselves and their families a form of collective punishment, that is deemed illegal under section 33 of the same convention