Last week, Israel released palestinian prisoner Mansour Shahateet. I have not been able to find out why he was incarcerated for 17 years, but I assume it was not for illegally selling Boy Scout cookies.
(Update: Convicted of attempted murder – hat tip: Tomer)
Anti-Israel sites like Quds News Network claimed he came out of prison in terrible health, placing the blame on Israel.
Then things got awkward.
A liberated Palestinian prisoner has confirmed that members of the extremist group Hamas had physically abused and beaten Mansour al-Shahateet, who was recently freed from an Israeli jail, in detention because of his objections to the conditions in the Gaza Strip.
Al-Shahateet, originally from Dura in southwestern Hebron, was recently released after 17 years in jail. He had come out with serious psychological problems after he was forcibly kept in solitary confinement for long periods.
Al-Shahateet had told Al Arabiya that he was severely abused and beaten by other Hamas prisoners while in jail following his dispute with Yahya Al-Sinwar, the current leader of Hamas, who was also in prison with him at the time.
“The leader of the Hamas movement, Yahya Sinwar, made a decision to isolate the prisoner Mansour al-Shahateet due to an organizational dispute between him and the movement. He was subjected to a painful beating on the head by Hamas militants, which caused his poor health and loss of memory, especially after the Israeli occupation authorities isolated him in solitary confinement for long periods of time after Hamas assaulted him and neglected to provide him with treatment,” former prisoner Salah al-Din Abu Rabee’ told Al Arabiya.
Following his release and wide media attention, Hamas issued a statement late on Friday attacking Al Arabiya for reporting on the mistreatment of al-Shahateet.
The released prisoner, al-Shahateet, currently suffers from psychological and neurological diseases. During his detention, he was subjected to severe torture and solitary confinement for long periods, which led to a state of amnesia that prevented him from remembering his own mother and a large number of his relatives and brothers upon his release.
“He suffered a psychological breakdown during his years of isolation, and with the medical negligence that the prison administration held against him, his condition worsened, and he remained unchanged until external mediation succeeded in bringing him back to us but it was too late,” al-Shahateet’s mother told Al Arabiya.
Now his family have released a statement denying it.
The family of Mansour Al-Shahateet released a statement on Saturday to explain their position on what is spreading about Mansour being tortured by members of Hamas in the Israeli prisons.
The family negated all news published by suspicious channels and stated, “nobody has the right to speak by us.”
“We appreciate and thank his companions who took care of him in the Israeli prions all along the past years,” they added.
They held the Israeli occupation accountable for what Mansour faced in the prisons.
The health of Mansour Al-Shahateet is all the family cares about now. “Mansour will come back to tell you the truth. We hope you pray for him instead of spreading rumors,” The family said.
Al-Shahateet family called for unity and said, “don’t change your arrows’ directions. Our enemy is watching us. Be one hand and support the prisoners.”
What’s the bet Hamas threatened his family, forcing them to deny his accusations?
