Aruri: Deal includes all prisoners demands, no more isolation

[ 13/10/2011 - 10:11 AM ]

CAIRO, (PIC)-- Saleh Al-Aruri, a Hamas leader and former prisoner, said that the exchange deal would include implementing all demands of the Palestinian prisoners and ending the solitary confinement policy. Aruri, who is in charge of the prisoners’ file in Hamas, told Quds TV network on Wednesday evening that the prisoners’ demands would be met after implementation of the exchange deal. The Hamas leader, who took part in the negotiations leading to that swap deal, said that there would be no more prisoners held in isolation and families would be allowed to visit their relatives in custody. Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been on hunger strike for more than two weeks en masse protesting harsh incarceration conditions. Aruri said that most of the oldest serving prisoners were included in the deal, adding that after its accomplishment less than 5000 prisoners would still be held in Israeli prisons. Meanwhile, Abu Obaida, the spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas the Qassam Brigades, said in a statement on Wednesday to the armed wing’s website, that the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is to be released in the deal, would not be the last to be captured by Palestinian resistance as long as Palestinian prisoners are still held in Israeli jails. He said that the Qassam Brigades would never forget the remaining prisoners, vowing to retain their issue a priority, adding that his armed wing would not be content with improving the incarceration condition of those prisoners but would continue to work for their release with all means possible.