Popular Resistance Committees Applaud Shalit Prisoner Exchange on 10th Anniversary

Gaza, 20 Ramadan 1437/26 June 2016 (MINA) – The Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees released a statement Saturday, marking the 10th anniversary of operation al-Wahm al-Mutabadid — operation “Fading Illusion” in English — in which Hamas militants kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, applauding those who took part in achieving the infamous prisoner exchange, Ma’an reported.

The 19-year-old Israeli soldier was kidnapped by Hamas on June 25, 2006 after Hamas entered Israel through underground tunnels, and was held by Hamas for more than five years in the Gaza Strip.

In October 2011, the soldier was released from Hamas’ custody following an agreement between Israel and Hamas to release Shalit in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

However, since their release, Israel has initiated mass detention campaigns to bring hundreds of former prisoners released in the exchange back into Israeli custody.

“The heroes of the Fading Illusion operation, in addition to the martyrs who contributed to detaining Shalit afterwards, and achieving the prisoner exchange deal, have written a history of dignity and pride for the Palestinian people,” the statement read, adding that the prisoner exchange served to create a sense of “joy and victory for [Palestinian] prisoners.”

The committees also encouraged Palestinians to develop a unified strategy to support Palestinian prisoners, while expressing their solidarity with all hunger-striking prisoners and the plight of Bilal Kayid — a PFLP-affiliated prisoner who has become a central focus for a mass hunger strike throughout Israeli prisons after he was sentenced to six months of administrative detention upon completing a 14-year prison sentence.

According to prisoner’s rights group Addameer, there are currently 7,000 Palestinians currently held in Israeli prisons. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)