Palestinian prisoners’ rights official demands Abbas retract decree on social support payments

The head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Authority, Qadura Fares, has called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to withdraw a decree ending social support payments to the families of those killed by Israel or imprisoned in Israeli jails.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Fares decried the “surprising decree”, arguing that a decision of this magnitude should have been discussed at all levels of the Palestinian political leadership and requires the consensus of the Palestinian National Council. He warned that “approximately 35,000 to 40,000” families both inside and outside the occupied Palestinian territories will be affected by the move.

Fares explained that a civil society organisation, the Palestinian Economic Empowerment Foundation, will now manage these payments and conduct audits to “verify the financial hardship” of prisoners and their families before disbursing 700 shekels ($150) to them, which is “unacceptable”.

He stressed that the “allowances for prisoners have always been a point of consensus” among Palestinian factions and people as a way to support their national struggle.

In closing, the rights official expressed concern that the decision will turn into a precedent that affects the rights of this group that has made huge sacrifices for the Palestinian cause.

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