The Knesset today approved a preliminary reading of proposed legislation that would deny family visits to jailed members of Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.
Proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, the bill’s first reading was approved by Knesset members in a vote of 85 to 11.
Israel: Bill banning family visits passes first reading https://t.co/CS8Lu4wH85 pic.twitter.com/TUvVRiEG4t
— KhamakarPress (@KhamakarPress) October 25, 2018
Before becoming law, a second and third reading of the bill must also be approved by the 120-member assembly.
A Knesset statement reads:
“The bill proposes the revocation of visits to security prisoners… if said prisoner is a member… of a terrorist group that prevents representatives of the Israeli government, humanitarian organizations, or family members from visiting Israeli hostages held by that group.”
Ministers fast-track bill banning family visits to Hamas prisoners | The Times of Israel (Timesof… https://t.co/2Qc2FERLMi
— International CyberGuerrillA Column (@CgAn_Doemela) October 23, 2018
The legislation appears to target Hamas, which has reportedly held four Israeli prisoners of war – including two soldiers – since 2014.
#Palestinian Prisoner #KhaderAdnan continues his hunger strike for the 54th so far in rejection for his "arbitrary" detention.#AdministrativeDetention pic.twitter.com/f5vbxGmyri
— india support for free Palestine!???????? (@Imtiyazmakrani4) October 25, 2018
According to Palestinian figures, some 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in Israeli prisons, including women, children and several Palestinian lawmakers. Many are held under administrative detention, without charge or trial, or on trumped-up charges.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
