FATAH AND HAMAS RELEASE PRISONERS FOR EID AL-FITR

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001831 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017 TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS SUBJECT: FATAH AND HAMAS RELEASE PRISONERS FOR EID AL-FITR Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On September 30, the Palestinian Authority (PA) released 38 West Bank HAMAS activists, reciprocating HAMAS's release September 29 of roughly 30 Fatah members in the Gaza Strip. PASF officials report that the released activists have no proven ties to the HAMAS military wing. End Summary. PA RELEASES 38 HAMAS ACTIVISTS FOR EID AL-FITR -------------- - ¶2. (C) The PA on September 30 released 38 HAMAS activists from West Bank prisons to reciprocate HAMAS's release of roughly 30 Fatah activists from prisons in the Gaza Strip on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. PA officials told PolSpec that the activists had no proven ties to HAMAS's military wing and had not been charged with any crime; most were arrested over the past few weeks in an effort to collect information on HAMAS activities in the West Bank. The PA published the names of the 38 activists after HAMAS denied that the release had occurred. HAMAS RELEASES 30 FATAH ACTIVISTS BUT REFUSES TO PUBLISH NAMES -------------- ¶3. (C) HAMAS released roughly 30 Fatah members from prisons in the Gaza Strip on September 29, but an Istikhbarat officer told PolSpec that at least some of the 30 were told to report back to prison after the holiday. HAMAS withheld the passports and IDs of some high-profile Fatah members, such as Khan Younis Governor Osama al-Fara, as collateral against their return. HAMAS refused to release the names or status of the 30 Fatah members. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) The PA traditionally releases a limited number of criminals from prison prior to Eid al-Fitr, but the release of political activists this year is related to on-going reconciliation efforts between Fatah and HAMAS. President Abbas ordered the release of HAMAS members, but PASF officers determined who and how many to release. WALLES