Israel releases three young Palestinians from prison

The Israeli authorities released three Palestinian prisoners on Thursday after they had completed their sentences. Qusai Dari, Mahmud Jamal Ghaith and Mohammed Yusuf Burqan have served 13 months, three years and 22 months respectively.

Dari, 17, is from the town of Issawiya, north-east of Jerusalem. He was arrested on 13 June last year and was convicted on several charges. He was released from Megiddo Prison.

Ghaith, meanwhile, is a 22-year-old from Silwan who served his sentence in the Negev desert prison. As he headed for home, Israeli security forces entered Silwan to prevent young people from hanging out banners to welcome the prisoners.

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The third prisoner to be released, Mohammed Yusuf Burqan, 20, is from Jerusalem’s Al-Thawri neighbourhood. He was arrested on 10 April 2015 after being shot by an Israeli soldier near his home. He was seriously injured in the face and lost his left eye; his cheek bones were severely damaged. Burqan was convicted on several charges including throwing stones and Molotov cocktails and participating in several demonstrations in Jerusalem. As well as his 22 months in prison he had to pay a fine of 5,000 shekels.

Burqan participated in the recent mass hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners and was subjected to alleged medical negligence by the prison authorities.