Israel to Release Palestinian Prisoners Convicted of Terrorism as Hostage Deal advances
On Friday morning, Israel’s Justice Ministry published a list detailing the 250 Palestinians convicted of terrorism who are slated for release under the current ceasefire agreement with Hamas.the 13-page document outlines the prisoners’ origins and the crimes for which they where convicted, with the designation “99-99-9999″ – signifying indefinite imprisonment only removable by pardon – appearing most frequently.
The impending release has ignited controversy, as the list includes individuals convicted of brutal crimes against Israeli civilians. Among them is Raad Sheikh, implicated in the 2000 Ramallah lynching of two Israeli soldiers. The release of these prisoners, even in exchange for Israeli hostages held by Hamas, raises profound ethical and security concerns, forcing Israel to weigh the value of securing its citizens against the potential risk of re-offense and the message it sends regarding accountability for acts of terror. The exchange is set to occur 25 years after the soldiers’ deaths, marking a deeply sensitive moment for both Israelis and Palestinians as negotiations continue for the remaining hostages.
Sheikh was part of a mob that beat and mutilated two Israeli soldiers on October 12, 2000, during the early days of the Second Intifada. The horrific event was captured by a foreign television crew, and images of Sheikh and another perpetrator, Aziz Salha, proudly displaying bloodied hands circulated globally. Salha had photographed himself with the soldiers’ hands smeared with blood.Now, after a quarter-century, Sheikh is poised for freedom as part of the hostage exchange.
