An analysis of the list of the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel

On 18 December, 550 Palestinian prisoners were released in completion of the second phase of the deal concluded by the Israeli government and Hamas authorities in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

The prisoners released in this second phase were selected by the Israeli authorities. Addameer, a Palestinian non-governmental civil institution that works to support Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli and Palestinian prisons, has analysed the list of the prisoners released.

The analysis revealed that 65 percent of the prisoners were due to be released by the end of 2012, including 100 with release dates in December 2011 and January 2012 alone. Furthermore, only 6 of the 11 women in Israeli detention were released, despite agreement by Israel that all female political prisoners would be included in the exchange.

Though reportedly there was meant to be an emphasis on sick and long-term prisoners, 74 percent of the released prisoners had sentences of 5 years or less. In addition, only 55 children of the more than 159 children in Israeli detention were released. With the exception of two prisoners arrested in 1999, all of the released prisoners were arrested during or after the Second Intifada, leaving 122 Palestinians arrested before the signing of the 1993 Oslo Accords still in Israeli prisons.

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