Islam Times - Israel re-arrests freed prisoners

Islam Times - Human rights organizations and prisoners advocates have accused Israel of violating the prisoner swap deal mediated by Egypt in late 2011.

Israel has so far re-arrested five former prisoners including female prisoner Hana Al-Shalabi who was re-arrested on the 16th of February and has been on hunger strike since then.

Hana's parents have been on a hunger strike for the last five days in solidarity with their daughter who is being held under detention.

A swap deal between Hamas and Israel which was mediated by Egypt saw the release of 1027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit.

The Hamas ministry of detainees' affairs accused Israel of reneging on the deal and called on Egypt to step in and help release the prisoners.

The California based, Al-Awda the Palestine Right To Return Coalition issued an urgent appeal to all people of conscience to help free the re-arrested Palestinian female prisoner.
International activists say the re-arrest of freed prisoners is an Israeli policy to repress Palestinians.

According to rights groups thousands of Palestinians are held in Israeli jails, many without being charged or facing trial.

Prisoner advocacy groups are calling on Egypt who mediated the prisoner swap deal to make sure that Israel abides by the conditions of the deal and release the released prisoners who were rearrested recently.