Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JERUSALEM1689
2008-09-10 14:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
HAMAS CONTINUES TO JAIL SENIOR PA, FATAH OFFICIALS
how-toVZCZCXRO9738 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #1689 2541412 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101412Z SEP 08 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2747 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001689
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV PTER PHUM
SUBJECT: HAMAS CONTINUES TO JAIL SENIOR PA, FATAH OFFICIALS
WITHOUT LEGAL PROCESS
REF: JERUSALEM 1407
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001689
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV PTER PHUM
SUBJECT: HAMAS CONTINUES TO JAIL SENIOR PA, FATAH OFFICIALS
WITHOUT LEGAL PROCESS
REF: JERUSALEM 1407
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) Summary. About 100 Palestinian Authority (PA) and
Fatah officials, including the Governors of Gaza and Khan
Yunis, remain jailed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, without a
legal basis for their detention or institutional process to
review their status. Senior Hamas spokesmen have previously
called these arrests a response to "continued political
detention of Hamas leaders in the West Bank." End summary.
Governors Remain in Indefinite
Detention Without Charge
--------------
2. (C) Gaza Governor Muhammad al-Qidwa and Khan Yunis
Governor Usama Muhammad al-Farra (both appointed by President
Abbas as his representatives in Gaza) were arrested by Hamas
security officers on August 1 (reftel) and remain jailed
without charges or a formal process to review their
detention. Al-Qidwa's son (a student in Texas) and office
manager in Gaza City both told PolOff by phone that Hamas
security officials have refused to provide a legal basis for
the Governor's arrest beyond "illegal activities" or a
timeline to review his case. They say al-Qidwa suffers from
severe health problems and is not being afforded adequate
medical treatment in Hamas custody.
3. (SBU) About 90 Fatah activists remain jailed, despite
recent releases of several dozen prisoners at the start of
Ramadan, according to Gaza Fatah and independent contacts.
Senior Hamas spokesmen have called these arrests a response
to "continued political detention of Hamas leaders in the
West Bank."
Hamas Arrests Striking Medical Staff
--------------
4. (SBU) Gaza contacts report the arrest of at least five
Gaza City doctors and hospital administrators for "subversive
activities" September 7-10, including Dr. Juma'a Saqa,
medical director of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. These
contacts say Hamas is attempting to break widespread strikes
against Hamas authorities by arresting hospital employees
without legal cause.
WALLES
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV PTER PHUM
SUBJECT: HAMAS CONTINUES TO JAIL SENIOR PA, FATAH OFFICIALS
WITHOUT LEGAL PROCESS
REF: JERUSALEM 1407
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) Summary. About 100 Palestinian Authority (PA) and
Fatah officials, including the Governors of Gaza and Khan
Yunis, remain jailed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, without a
legal basis for their detention or institutional process to
review their status. Senior Hamas spokesmen have previously
called these arrests a response to "continued political
detention of Hamas leaders in the West Bank." End summary.
Governors Remain in Indefinite
Detention Without Charge
--------------
2. (C) Gaza Governor Muhammad al-Qidwa and Khan Yunis
Governor Usama Muhammad al-Farra (both appointed by President
Abbas as his representatives in Gaza) were arrested by Hamas
security officers on August 1 (reftel) and remain jailed
without charges or a formal process to review their
detention. Al-Qidwa's son (a student in Texas) and office
manager in Gaza City both told PolOff by phone that Hamas
security officials have refused to provide a legal basis for
the Governor's arrest beyond "illegal activities" or a
timeline to review his case. They say al-Qidwa suffers from
severe health problems and is not being afforded adequate
medical treatment in Hamas custody.
3. (SBU) About 90 Fatah activists remain jailed, despite
recent releases of several dozen prisoners at the start of
Ramadan, according to Gaza Fatah and independent contacts.
Senior Hamas spokesmen have called these arrests a response
to "continued political detention of Hamas leaders in the
West Bank."
Hamas Arrests Striking Medical Staff
--------------
4. (SBU) Gaza contacts report the arrest of at least five
Gaza City doctors and hospital administrators for "subversive
activities" September 7-10, including Dr. Juma'a Saqa,
medical director of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. These
contacts say Hamas is attempting to break widespread strikes
against Hamas authorities by arresting hospital employees
without legal cause.
WALLES