RAMALLAH, March 17, 2018 (WAFA) – Minister of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, Issa Qaraqe, warned on Saturday about the deteriorating health and physiological being of veteran Palestinian political detainees who spent more than 20 years in Israeli jails.

Speaking during an event for the prisoners’ families in Ramallah city in the West Bank, Qaraqe said most of these prisoners have been suffering various diseases as a result of their prolonged detention and the absence of any prospects for their release.

He said 48 prisoners have spent more than 20 years in Israeli jails, of whom 25 prisoners have been arrested for more than 25 years, and 12 prisoners have been arrested for more than 30 years.

Qaraqe stressed the importance of highlighting the issue of the veterans prisoners and prioritizing the issue in any future negotiations, as the prolonged time they spent in jail has had serious effects on their physical and psychological health.

In early 2014, Israel declined to release 30 Palestinian veteran prisoners who had been in jail since 1993 as part of a deal with President Mahmoud Abbas for peace negotiations. The negotiations came to an end since then as a result of Israel’s decision not to release the 30 prisoners.

M.N