PA RELEASES HAMAS PRISONERS; FAYYAD SAYS NO CHANGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000326

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2024
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL CVIS IS KWBG
SUBJECT: PA RELEASES HAMAS PRISONERS; FAYYAD SAYS NO CHANGE
IN POLICY

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Palestinian Authority Security Forces
(PASF) released 52 Hamas detainees on February 24. PM Fayyad
said the 52 detainees were scheduled to be released because
they posed no threat to the PA or Israel, but that the timing
of their release was orchestrated by the Muqata'a in advance
of the Cairo reconciliation talks. He said the PA's
anti-terror campaign will continue irrespective of political
considerations. Fatah officials described the release as a
goodwill gesture before national reconciliation talks begin
February 26. Hamas greeted the release as a "step in the
right direction", but demanded further concessions from the
PA. Partial list of detainees released at para 5. End
Summary.

PASF RELEASE HAMAS DETAINEES PRIOR TO NATIONAL DIALOGUE
-------------- --------------


2. (C) The PASF released 52 Hamas detainees in the West Bank
February 24, primarily from Mukhabarat and Preventive
Security Organization (PSO) detention. Mid-level Mukhabarat
and PSO officials told PolSpec on February 25 that President
Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and PM Salam Fayyad approved the
release of these Hamas members, all of whom had been detained
for weeks and interrogated. They said none were implicated
in security violations or pose a threat to the PA or Israel.

FAYYAD SAYS ARRESTS, RELEASES BASED
ON LEGAL AND SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
--------------


3. (C) PM Fayyad told the Consul General on February 25 that
the detainees had been scheduled for release over the past
weeks, but that the Muqata'a timed the release to coincide
with reconciliation talks. Fayyad said he issued clear
orders to the security chiefs that anti-terror arrests will
continue and that the PASF will arrest or release detainees
based only on security considerations. National Security
Forces (NSF) Commander Diab al-Ali (Abu Fatah) and
Istikhabarat (Military Intelligence) Chief Majid Farraj told
PolSpec on February 25 that they will not release a large
number of Hamas detainees again during the talks.

HAMAS OFFICIALS: LIMITED RELEASES ARE NOT ENOUGH
FATAH OFFICIALS: GOODWILL GESTURE
-------------- ---


4. (U) Hamas officials, including Ismail Radwan, publicly
described the release of Hamas detainees as "a step in the
right direction," but said that it fell short of their
expectations. Hamas PLC member in Gaza Yunis al-Astal said
PASF efforts will undermine reconciliation talks and
reiterated Hamas's demand that all detainees be released. He
accused the PA of collaborating with Israel and called for
the opening of Hamas-affiliated NGOs in the West Bank.


5. (C) Fatah officials, including Nabil Amre and Nabil
Shaath, stated publicly that the release was a goodwill
gesture in advance of upcoming reconciliation talks in Cairo.
(Comment: Fatah has been putting pressure on PM Fayyad to
release Hamas detainees, consistent with Hamas demands. PM
Fayyad has held the line on this with political cover from
Abu Mazen. However, Fatah is using these releases for its
political advantage. End Comment.)

HAMAS DETAINEES RELEASES IN THE WEST BANK
--------------


6. (C) Following is a partial list of Hamas detainees
released by the PASF in the West Bank February 24, according
to PASF officials.

A. The Mukhabarat released the following detainees:

-- in Nablus: Hayal Abdul Aziz Imran; Adam Jamil Ishtayeh;
Usama Abdul Rahim Hijawi; and Muhammad Abdullah Mahmud;

-- in Jenin: Hasan Muhammad al-Zaghal; and Ala'a Arif Hamad;

-- in Bethlehem: Bassam Abed Rabbo; Qasem Naem Balbul; and
Samih Ahmad Abdul Rahman al-Sabah;

-- in Ramallah: Jalal Biari; Fadi Nadi; Muhammad Ibrahim
Sabah; Iyad Mahmud Said Safi; and Muhammad Jamil Abdul Razeq;

-- in Hebron: Basal Halayqa; Shadi Ghanaymat; and Munif
Nabil Musa al-Amayreh;

-- in Salfit: Juma'a Ibrahim Ramadan; and Ala'a Mazen Ahmad;

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-- in Tulkarem: Ala'a Mazen Anbas; and Shaykh Laith Attili;

-- and in the Jerusalem area: Muhammad Anwar Hasan Mansur.


B. The PSO released the following detainees:

-- in Nablus: Taha Mansur; Fadi Bishtawi; and Jasir Hamadeh
from the Balata Refugee Camp;

-- in Tulkarem: Abdul Fattah Qaddumi; Rushdi Jayusi; Fadi
Amair; and Hussayn Ya'acub.

WALLES