Terror victims group to appeal to High Court against hostage release deal

The Almagor Terror Victims Association says it will file a petition to the High Court of Justice at noon today against the government’s deal to secure the return of 50 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

In a letter to Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Almagor founder Meir Indoor together with board member Dr. Aryeh Bachrach write that the organization believes “the same landmines and surprises in the agreement were [present] in almost every other [hostage] deal in the past.”

Almagor demands to see the list of prisoners Israel is considering releasing as part of the deal, which the Justice Ministry has now published on its website.

The organization also demands to see all details of the commitments Israel is making to Hamas regarding restrictions on combat during the ceasefire period, including the cessation of intelligence gathering, “as well as the delivery of fuel and other supplies which may help Hamas conduct terror operations against residents of Israel.”

Additionally, they call on Levin to disclose “the general commitments Israel is making to Hamas that have been given directly or through a third party.”

The High Court will hear any petition filed during the course of today and is widely expected to reject it, as it did with petitions against the Shalit deal in 2011.