RAMALLAH, With the release this month of two Palestinian freedom fighters after spending 40 years behind Israeli bars, Israel is still holding 23 Palestinian freedom fighters imprisoned since before the signing of the Oslo accords between the Palestinians and Israel in 1993, which called for the release of all Palestinian prisoners as a peace gesture.
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) said in a statement that Mohammad al-Tous, from Hebron and arrested in 1985, has become the longest-serving Palestinian freedom fighter in Israeli jails after the release of Karim Younis, released on January 5, and Maher Younis, released today, after completing 40 years behind bars.
It said that 10 Palestinian freedom fighters also arrested before the signing of the Oslo accords but were released in previous prisoners’ exchange deals and then re-arrested by the Israeli occupation authorities and their sentences re-instated are also considered among the most senior Palestinian prisoners, most notably among them is Nael Barghouti who spent a total of 43 years behind bars, even though not continuous.
The PPS said more than 340 Palestinian freedom fighters have spent more than 20 years in Israeli jails.
Source: Palestine News & Info Agency