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"Why have not we heard any body appealing for the release of the 10,000 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jail," said a Palestinian woman. (Reuters) |
GAZA CITY — The international fuss and accelerated efforts for the immediate release of an Israeli soldier reportedly taken prisoner by Palestinian resistance groups drew rebuke from the families of thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
"Why have not we heard any body appealing for the release of the 10,000 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jail," asked one Palestinian woman whose husband Nafiz Herz is jailed by Israel.
"The entire world is standing on its toes to release the Israeli soldier," she told IslamOnline.net on Tuesday, June 27.
"Are not our prisoners human?"
Corporal Gilad Shalit, an Israeli tank gunner, went missing during a Palestinian attack on an Israeli military post on Sunday, June 25.
Three Palestinian resistance groups, which claimed joint responsibility for the attack that killed two other soldiers, said Israel would not get information about him unless it frees all detained Palestinian women and minors.
Palestinians say Israel is holding 126 Palestinian women and 450 minors for alleged security offenses.
All in all, there are nearly 9800 Palestinians being held in Israeli jails and detention centers.
No Pressures
The families of Palestinians detained in Israeli prisoners appealed to Palestinians who have the Israeli soldier in their custody to brave mounting pressures.
"They should not bow to pressures and release him charge-free," said Shalah, the father of another detainee.
"The soldier should be traded with some of our detainees. The world should no that Palestinian blood is as important as Israeli."
The mother of detainee Hazem Hussein agreed enthusiastically.
"They should listen to our cries not to the demands and threats of Israel and the US," she the grieved mother.
"We also want our boys to come home."
An Egyptian security delegation is negotiating the release of Shalit.
Egyptian intelligence officials Sunday reportedly held contacts with Hamas political bureau chief Meshal.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak may initiate a meeting in Cairo with leaders of Palestinian factions within a day or two in further efforts to secure the soldier's release, according to Haaretz.
Shame
The society of Palestinian detainees and freed prisoners also lashed out at parties mediating the release of the Israeli soldier.
"We want to remind Arab countries and those taking pains mediating in the issue to remember that we have 10,000 people suffering daily humiliation in Israeli detentions," Mouafaq Hamid, the society's media officer, told IOL.
"None of these countries ever mediate with Israel for the release of our prisoners."
Israeli occupation forces have arrested one-fifth of the Palestinians in the occupied territories or 650,000 people since the 1967 war, according to a recent report by the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and the Released Prisoners.
The report also slammed the appalling prison conditions, noting that some 181 prisoners died in Israeli custody.
Prisoners are additionally abused and beaten by their Israeli jailers, and subjected to humiliating body searches, it said.
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