Mahmoud Abu-Tir
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Hamas officials’ release postponed
Prosecution appeals military court’s decision to free top terror group officials arrested by IDF forces last July
The Hamas ministers
and parliamentarians apprehended in July by IDF forces will not be released today (Thursday), this following an appeal filed by the prosecution; a court hearing on the matter has been set for next Monday.
Last Tuesday a military judge at the Ofer army base determined that the top Palestinian officials should be freed, citing that Israel did not attempt to detain the Hamas members prior to the Palestinian elections.
Judge Ronen Atzmon ordered the release of 18 Hamas parliamentarians and ministers on bails ranging from NIS 15 to 25,000.
The court said on Tuesday that “there exists evidence that apparently substantiates the accusations,” but added that the detainees should be released until the opening of their trial, at which time the court will rule on whether they will be held until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against them.
Among those slated for release are Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Dr. Aziz Dweik and senior Hamas official Mahmoud Abu-Tir.
The court dismissed defense attorneys’ claims that the Hamas officials enjoy immunity and therefore the arrests were an attack on Palestinian sovereignty; the court also dismissed the claim that the arrests constituted a violation of the Geneva Convention.
