PA RELEASES 30-40 HAMAS MEMBERS FOR EID, BUT

S E C R E T JERUSALEM 002155 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017 TAGS: KWBG PTER PINS IS PGOV SUBJECT: PA RELEASES 30-40 HAMAS MEMBERS FOR EID, BUT ARRESTS CONTINUE Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) The Palestinian Authority (PA) released 30-40 Hamas-affiliated prisoners October 9-11 for Eid al-Fitr, according to Palestinian press and PA security contacts. According to security contacts, the prisoners released are minor figures associated with Hamas charities and other NGOs, and Hamas militants remain jailed. They add that arrests of other Hamas members in the West Bank continue. None of Those Released Serious Terror Suspects -------------- ¶2. (S) In October 15 phone calls, Nablus General Intelligence (Mukhabarat) chief Abdallah Kmayl and operations staff officer Salim al-Qaysi said the Hamas members released are not part of the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades or terrorist cells. Al-Qaysi said several Hamas militants, including Ahmad Dulah, remain in Preventive Security (PSO) and Mukhabarat custody. Kmayl added that many of those released signed commitments to respect PA law and its leaders, including PA President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and PM Salam Fayyad, and that all will be monitored and re-arrested if they commit any illegal act or incite against the PA. Amnesty Gesture for the Public, not Hamas; Arrests Ops Continue -------------- ¶3. (C) Kmayl said the Governors (separately but in coordination) declared the amnesties, including for many non-Hamas detainees. He added that Nablus Governor Jamal Muhaysan and Tulkarm Governor Talal Dwaykat initiated the amnesties as goodwill gestures to the Palestinian public, not to Hamas, noting that arrests of Hamas suspects continued through the Eid holiday. (Note: Hamas spokesmen told the press that PA security arrested four Hamas members in Nablus, 'Askar Refugee Camp and Tubas on October 10, and two more members in Jenin and Nablus October 12. End note). WALLES