RAMALLAH, Tuesday, January 05, 2021 (WAFA) – The two longest-serving Palestinian political prisoners in Israel complete this month 38 years behind bars, today said the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS).

Karim Yunis starts tomorrow his 39th year behind bars, and his cousin, Maher Yunis, also starts later this month his 39th year behind bars, said the PPS.

Additionally, Bashir al-Khatib starts this month his 34th year behind bars, while Nasser Srour and Mahmoud Srour begin this month their 29th years in prison, said the PPS.

The five are among 26 prisoners arrested by Israel for resisting its occupation since before the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, including 12 prisoners from the Palestinian community in Israel.

The 26 prisoners should have been released in 2014 as part of a US-sponsored plan to revive the then stalled peace process between the Palestinians and Israel. However, Israel reneged on the agreement when it came to releasing this group of prisoners and after releasing three other batches of prisoners leading to a total halt to the peace negotiations.

K.T./M.K.