Hamas: Military trials in West Bank serve Israeli interest and hinder national reconciliation

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has denounced the recent verdicts issued by West Bank military courts against detainees being held in West Bank prisons criticising them for being highly political, serving the interests of the Israeli occupation and hindering national reconciliation.
 
A press statement issued by the movement stated “We strongly denounce these unfair political sentences and condemn their issuance against citizens defending their land and dignity against the brutal Zionist Occupation. We consider these sentences to be political par excellence serving the Occupation and the security of its settlers who carelessly abuse the West Bank. They also cast a negative shadow and put additional obstacles in the way of national dialogue and reconciliation.”

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The statement called for the release of detainees and the emptying of jails of political prisoners; “We demand that Mr Mahmoud Abbas release political detainees, close down all prisons and stop arbitrary actions and political trials against freedom fighters and those of the resistance in the West Bank. We also call on human rights organisations to pressure the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah for the release of political detainees and the protection of citizens’ security.”
 
The statement highlighted the sentence against Alaa Abu Diab who is one of the key figures in the Al-Qassam Brigades who was sentenced to 20 years behind bars. It also mentioned Abdel Fattah Sherim who was sentenced for 12 years along with his wife, Mervat Sabry, who was sentenced for a year. Both support Hamas.