Hamas leader's wife released after a year in Israeli detention

Palestinian human rights sources have reported that the wife of a leading member of Hamas has been released from an Israeli jail. Forty-two year old activist Muntaha al-Tawil, had been held in administrative detention for a year. Mrs al-Tawil is the wife of Sheikh Jamal al-Tawil, head of the al-Bireh municipality and a leader within the Hamas movement.

The Ahrar Centre for Prisoner Studies and Human Rights said that Muntaha al-Tawil was arrested on the 8 February last year. The length of her detention was extended four times in twelve months.

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Following her release Mrs al-Tawil said, “Female prisoners in Hasharon Prison appeal to the Palestinian leadership and national factions on the necessity of national reconciliation.” She also confirmed that female prisoners suffer under “harsh conditions in prisons run by the Israeli occupation authority”, including provocative inspections.

The Ahrar Centre, along with international and other human rights organisations, is planning a major campaign for the release of female Palestinian prisoners and an improvement in their conditions while they are in detention.

Source: Quds Press