Report: Turkey Will Host All Exiled Palestinian Prisoners

 

BETHLEHEM (NNN-Ma'an) -- Turkey will take in the 40 Palestinian prisoners set for exile abroad as part of an exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, Turkish media reported on Friday.

Israel refused to deport the prisoners -- part of the first round of 450 set be released this week -- to Egypt, Lebanon or Syria, according to the report in Turkish daily Hurriyet.

Hamas and Israel agreed on Tuesday to exchange over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for captured Israeli solider Gilad Shalit.

Some 200 detainees will be exiled, 40 detainees overseas and another 163 sent to Gaza.

The second phase of prisoners will be implemented after two months, Hamas politburo member Izzat al-Rishiq said on Thursday.

In a statement published on his Facebook page, Rishiq listed criteria he said had been agreed with Israel for the next stage of releases, whose names will be selected by Israel.

Israel will free "prisoners serving time for patriotic acts rather than criminal acts," and not prisoners who have nearly completed jail terms, Rishiq said.

Freed detainees will have several years of their sentence remaining, and will all be allowed to return to their home towns, the Hamas official added.

One of the groups involved in the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit said Thursday that the transfer of some 450 Palestinian prisoners will begin Tuesday.

Spokesman Abu Mujahed of the Popular Resistance Committees said Thursday that as soon as the detainees are released, officials will check each one to make sure they are among those listed in the deal.

Once the prisoners are checked, the factions holding Shalit will release him too.

An official in the PRC's military wing, meanwhile, released a list of prisoners it says Israel agreed to free in exchange for Shalit. The list includes 477 names along with the conditions of each prisoner's release.

Several lists are floating around, including one which appeared on Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV. The ministry of prisoner’s affairs in the Gaza Strip says none of them are entirely accurate.

Abu Mujahed, the PRC spokesman, said those detainees who are to be exiled from the West Bank will depart Israel via Egypt and enter Gaza. Those who will be exiled abroad will go to Turkey or Qatar via Cairo.

Israel and Hamas agreed Tuesday to swap more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for captive soldier Shalit, resolving one of the most emotive and intractable issues between them.

The deal was overseen by the Egyptian intelligence minister two weeks ago. Israel and Hamas send delegates to Cairo and it was agreed that 450 prisoners would be freed in a first round.

There are at least 6,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. They are regarded as heroes in their struggle against Israeli occupation and quest for statehood.

Shalit, who also holds French citizenship, was last seen in a videotape released by his captors in September 2009. He has received no visits from the Red Cross, despite many appeals. -- NNN-MA'AN