The Israeli Prison Service distributed photos of Palestinian detainees released as part of a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas wearing t-shirts with the inscription “We will not forget and we will not forgive” and the Star of David symbol. The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) today distributed photos of Palestinian prisoners released as part of the sixth stage of the prisoner exchange agreement, wearing t-shirts with the inscription “We will not forget and we will not forgive” and the Star of David symbol.
A source on the matter expressed criticism to Kan News about the decision and stated that the political leadership had not been informed. According to the source, dressing Palestinian prisoners in t-shirts is problematic because Israel is trying to take advantage of Hamas’ approach to negotiations for releasing hostages.
When the photos were distributed, IPS stated that the decision was made by Prisons Commissioner Haham Gondar Kobi Yaakobi and added, “The Commissioner ordered a change in the clothing set for the release of terrorists.” This was not the first incident of torture.
Two weeks ago, prisoners released in the fourth stage of the prisoner exchange were given bracelets with the IPS emblem, the Israeli flag, and the inscription in Arabic and Hebrew “The eternal people will not forget, I will pursue my enemies and capture them.” Among those released today as part of the agreement is Ahmed Barguti, a close associate of Mervan Barguti. Barguti, who was sentenced to life imprisonment 13 times, was arrested with Mervan in 2002 in Ramallah. He served as the operational commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah.