Low turnout for Palestinian prisoner release as negotiations slump
Here is an article discussing the celebrations after the 1 AM release of the prisoners.
"In a scaled back ceremony early Tuesday morning 18 Palestinians returned to the West Back in the third round of prisoners released by Israel during the Kerry-backed direct negotiations. The group, all pre-Oslo prisoners who were sentenced to 19 to 28 years, were transferred to Ofer military prison, and then entered the West Bank through the Beituna checkpoint around 2:30a.m., before arriving at the Palestinian Authority headquarters outside of Ramallah. While at the checkpoint, a clash erupted between onlookers and the Israeli military, with tear gas fired into the crowd of prisoner supporters."
"At the Muqataa, a short walk from downtown Ramallah, families of the released prisoners gathered despite the winter weather. Reflecting the malaise towards reaching a deal between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, less than half the number of supporters as the last two releases assembled for last nightÂ’s address, which was held in smaller plaza than the previous prisoner releases. Around one thousand waited hours until the men appeared with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas just after 3a.m. The depression didnÂ’t keep families from carrying released prisoners on their shoulders through the crowds, though. But there was noticeably less cheerleading, less dancing, and less impromptu chanting of national slogans.
In total 26 prisoners were released last night, with three returning to the Gaza Strip and five taken to East Jerusalem.
Low turnout for Palestinian prisoner release as negotiations slump | Mondoweiss
What I find shameful is how prisoners are released in the middle of the night and all the effort Israel puts into quenching celebrations. We all know none of the over 5000 Palestinian prisoners received trials that were just or lawful under international law. That means no convictions were legitimate convictions, these are men unlawfully detained for over 20 years, a cause all Palestinians should be able to celebrate and feel no guilt or shame in celebrating freedom for these unlawfully detained men, all Palestinian heroes. Occupation even seeks to deprive the people of celebrating freedom when it comes.