Hamas releases two men held since April for speaking with Israelis online
Palestinian centre for Human Rights said a military court on Monday convicted the two men and a woman of 'weakening revolutionary spirit'
Hamas authorities in Gaza released two men jailed since April for holding an online video conference with Israeli peace activists.
The Palestinian centre for Human Rights said a military court on Monday convicted the two men and a woman of “weakening revolutionary spirit” but released them on the basis of time served, the Associated Press reported.
Rami Aman, 39, who runs the Gaza Youth Committee group, received the heaviest sentence of one year in jail but was released with a suspended sentence, according to the report. A second unnamed defendant was also convicted and freed.
The third defendant, Manar al-Sharif, had already been released on bail in June. She was also convicted Monday but excused from serving any further jail time.
The three defendants were detained along with four others for attending a two-hour Zoom meeting titled “Skype with your enemy” that the Gaza Youth Committee helped organise as part of a bridge-building initiative. The other four detainees were released shortly after their arrest.
Several human rights groups had demanded the release of the detainees.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
