Jordanian Arab Prisoners in Israeli Jails: Decades of Resilience

The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-detainees has reported that Israeli occupation authorities are currently detaining 18 Arab prisoners, all of whom are Jordanians, with some holding Jordanian citizenship while others have Palestinian origins and possess Jordanian national identification numbers.

 Tale of Long-term Imprisonment

Jordanian detainees held in Israeli prisons, mainly those subjected to administrative detention, have been incarcerated for extended periods, reflecting the endurance of these prisoners against various forms of injustice and adversity.

Among the Jordanian prisoners currently held in Israeli prisons, nine are serving life sentences, either once or multiple times, while five others are serving sentences ranging from 20 to 36 years.

Additionally, three prisoners are serving sentences ranging from 15 to 19 years, and one prisoner is serving a 5-year sentence.

The Commission stated that seven of the Jordanian prisoners are on the “Deans of the Prisoners” list and have been detained for over 20 years, while five others have been incarcerated for more than 15 years.

Tragedies

In addition, the Commission noted in its report that the Lebanese martyr Samir Al-Quntar had spent the most continuous years in Israeli prisons among Arab prisoners, having spent over 29 years before being released in a prisoner exchange in 2008 and subsequently martyred in an Israeli airstrike in 2015.

Furthermore, the Commission highlighted that the released Syrian prisoner, Sadiq Al-Maqat, from the Golan Heights, holds the record for the most years spent in Israeli prisons over two periods, with a total of 32 years. He was released from his second detention in January 2020.

Uniting for Palestinian Rights

The Commission emphasized that Arab prisoners are an integral and essential part of the detainees’ movement, who have played an unforgettable role in confronting jailers throughout various stages of struggle behind bars. They have also participated in hunger strikes alongside their Palestinian brethren.

The Commission called on all Palestinian and Arab entities and institutions to grant these Arab prisoners the attention and recognition they deserve, shedding light on their struggle and the sacrifices they have made for the Palestinian cause.