Prisoners' Committee: Amin al-Qawqa Detained by PA Security Forces for 19 Years

The Committee of Families of Political Prisoners in the West Bank announced that Amin al-Qawqa has been held by the Security Committee in al-Junaid Prison in Nablus since 2007, as part of pressure aimed at forcing him to surrender to occupation forces. The committee noted his deteriorating health and the denial of visits for him and his family, and called for an end to his detention.

The Committee of Families of Political Prisoners in the West Bank announced that Amin al-Qawqa has been held by the "Security Committee" in al-Junaid Prison in Nablus since 2007, approximately 19 years. The committee explained in a press statement that his continued detention is part of pressure aimed at forcing him to surrender to Israeli occupation forces. It noted his deteriorating health and the denial of visits for him and his family, considering the prevention of visits a means of pressure, and described his continued detention as "alignment and complicity" by PA security forces with occupation pressure. The committee called for ending al-Qawqa's detention and allowing his family to visit him. Al-Qawqa's arrest dates back to November 1, 2007, and he was wanted by occupation forces due to his activity in the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. PA security forces justified his detention at the time as intended to protect him from Israeli arrest. During his years of detention, al-Qawqa has conducted several hunger strikes to protest his detention conditions. His case is part of the issue of political arrests in the West Bank, where Palestinian and human rights groups accuse PA security forces of pursuing activists based on political affiliation, while the security forces deny this.