Jailed former Al-Aqsa Brigades fighters ask PA to release them

Date: 29 / 03 / 2009 Time: 21:44

[Ma'anImages]

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Seven former Palestinian fighters jailed as a part of a deal with Israel appealed to the Palestinian Authority (PA) for their release on Sunday.

The men are former member of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, and have been held in the PA security compound in Bethlehem for a year after signing agreements to renounce armed struggle in exchange for a “pardon” from Israel. Under the amnesty deal between the PA and Israel, fighters agree to spend time in prison before they are pardoned.

One of the men, Hadi Da’dara, said they are still waiting for Israel to issue the pardons. They directed their appeal at Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to intervene and resolve their ordeal.

They also called the Palestinian interior minister, Abdel Razeq Al-Yahya, to assist them.

The men were identified as: Ziyad Mizher, Khalil Obeiat, Mu’ath Abu Aker, Shadi Abu Jalghif, Hadi Da’dara, Muhammad Ramadan and Jamal Jibrin.