Palestinian prisoner completes 23 years in Israeli jails

Jenin (QNN) – A Palestinian prisoner serving a life sentence plus 15 years in Israeli jails for resisting its occupation has completed 23 years behind bars, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS).

Mahmoud Abdullah Arda, 41, from the West Bank town of Arraba, was arrested on September 21, 1996 and sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years, said Muntaser Sammour, director of Jenin’s PPS office.

Palestinians serving long prison terms in Israel have no chance of getting out without a prisoner exchange, which was the case several times in the past, the latest was in October 2011 when Israel freed more than 1000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for an Israeli soldier who was held captive in Gaza for five years.

There are currently more than 500 Palestinians serving one or more life terms in Israel out of over 5500 prisoners.