PA retires head of prisoner group after he criticises its policies

Hamas today condemned the Palestinian Authority’s decision to retire the head of the Palestinian Prisoners´ and Freed Prisoners Affairs Authority over “his criticism of the Palestinian Authority’s decree to cut social support payments to the families of those killed by Israel or who are imprisoned in Israeli jails”, Quds Press reported.

“Attempts to silence national voices and punish everyone who stands with prisoners, martyrs and their rights reflects the Palestinian Authority´s approach of repression and exclusion and is a dangerous deviation from national constants, and submission to Zionist and American dictates that target the prisoners’ struggle and their just cause,” the movement said in a statement.

Hamas affirmed its solidarity with Qadura Fares and “all the free voices that reject the infringement of the rights of prisoners and their families”.

Earlier in the day, PA President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree referring Fares to effective retirement.

Abbas appointed Raed Arafat Abu Al-Hummus as head of the authority succeeding Fares.

Last week, Fares criticised the PA’s decision to cut payments to the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs, saying a decision of this magnitude should have been discussed at all levels of the political leadership and requires the consensus of the Palestinian National Council (PNC).

READ: Hamas to free 6 Israeli captives on Saturday