The daughter of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh attempted to enter the Eshel Prison in the south using the identity card of another woman in a bid to meet her fiancé who is a prisoner there.
Haola Haniyeh was arrested and taken into interrogation, and it is believed a criminal file will be opened against her due to the use of a false identity. She was later released and transferred to the Erez Crossing, from where she was to be taken to the Palestinian Authority.
In the afternoon hours, Ismail Haniyeh's 18-year-old daughter arrived on a bus carrying family members of prisoners to the jail in Be'er Sheva. Palestinians say she arrived at the prison to visit her fiancé who is also relative, Abd Haniyeh, a Hamas member who is serving a 15-year sentence for attempted murder.
As the Israel Prisons Service only allows immediate family members to visit prisoners, Haniyeh is not eligible to visit her fiancé.
False identity card
Palestinian sources said that she used an identity card belonging to her fiancé's 15-year-old daughter, but her behavior caused suspicions, and prison staff transferred her to police in the area, who took her into interrogation at a Be'er Sheva police station.
A Red Cross representative who accompanied the family members said that contacts were being held to arrange Haniyeh's release.
Ynet was told the Palestinian Prime Minister's Office was working for the release of Haniyeh's daughter, although Haniyeh's office is refusing to officially address the incident.
In similar incidents, Palestinians who illegally enter Israel and are caught are usually returned to the Palestinian Authority.
Ali Waked and Anat Barshkovsky contributed to the report
First published: 18:15, 05.29.6