Fatah will ‘integrate’ freed Palestinian prisoners into ‘national frameworks’

Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party is preparing to integrate prisoners released under the hostage deal with Hamas into "the movement and national frameworks," it announced on Saturday.

The Revolutionary Council – Fatah's second-highest body, chaired by Abbas – following its annual summit in Ramallah reiterated the party's "commitment to supporting the families of martyrs, prisoners and injured individuals, emphasising that they are 'heroes of freedom' who deserve top priority in terms of protection and care," the PA's official Wafa news agency reported.

According to Wafa, the Revolutionary Council also vowed to "double its efforts" to support prisoners. "Mercy for the martyrs, freedom for the prisoners and healing for the wounded," the statement concluded.

Hundreds of Palestinians, including convicted murderers and terrorists, have been freed from Israeli prisons in exchange for the return of Hamas’ hostages in recent weeks.

Abbas told the Revolutionary Council over the weekend, "We reiterate we are proud of the sacrifices of the martyrs, prisoners and wounded."

The Fatah chairman continued, "We have established a comprehensive social protection and care system and amended some laws to secure the needs of all affected categories of Palestinian families who need empowerment and assistance.

"This system will work to preserve their dignity and material needs, and we hope that everyone will trust us."

The meeting in Ramallah was attended by Zakaria Zubeidi, a former Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades commander in Jenin, who was released as part of the hostage deal on January 30.

According to Wafa, a reception was held in the Ramallah suburb of Al-Bireh for Zubeidi and fellow former inmates.

"We went to prison so that the people could gain their freedom, and it is time, after all the great sacrifices they have made, for them to be able to do so by establishing their independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," the convicted terrorist was quoted as saying.

The meeting came as the PA is reportedly being lined up to take over the governance of Gaza from Hamas under the next phase of the ceasefire, should negotiations progress that far.

A Hamas source told Sky News Arabic last week that the terror group would accept the PA’s authority in the Strip, while US and Israeli outlets have suggested that both governments would work with the Authority on the condition of significant reform.

One of those key reforms already appears to have progressed, with Abbas announcing the end of the “pay-to-slay” scheme that rewarded those convicted of violent offences against Israel. Under the new policy, financial assistance would be provided to prisoners and their families based on, rather than linked to the severity of their crime.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office has since denied that Israel would accept the PA, with Netanyahu himself throwing his weight behind US President Trump’s proposal for Washington to “take over” Gaza and resettle its population.

Meanwhile, Oran Almog, who was left blind in an attack by one of the Palestinians released under the exchange deal, has spoken to the JC about why he still backs the agreement, saying that it gives hostages and their families the chance to “live life again”.