That would be a logical reinforcement of the truce, which is currently observed by Hamas. There are around 10.000 Palestinian prisoners languishing in Israeli jails, many of them held in detention without trial.
An exchange of prisoners could help to further defuse the situation, but is Israel interested at all?
The de facto siege of Gaza continues, as I found out today. The 120 participants (of whom I am one) in the 5th international conference organized by the Gaza Community Mental Health Program in conjunction with the World Health Organization, which was to take place in Gaza City on 27/28 October have heard today that despite earlier promises made by the Israeli authorities the participants (academics and health workers) will not be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip. Through force of circumstances the conference venue now has to be moved to Ramallah.
Truce or no truce, Gaza remains a prison, cut off from academic freedom as well. Courtesy of the Middle East`s "only democracy". |
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