Missing soldier's family protests prison benefits for Hamas inmates

Parents of Oron Shaul, whose body is held in Gaza by the terror group, is ‘shocked to discover’ prisoners given special privileges

The family of a fallen Israeli soldier whose remains Hamas is holding in Gaza demanded Tuesday that Israel’s government cancel recent improvements to jail conditions for prisoners from the terror group.

In a letter addressed to Prisons Service Commissioner Ofra Klinger and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, the parents of slain soldier Oron Shaul said they were “shocked to discover” a decision to give some 3,500 Hamas prisoners a number of perks over the past month.

These benefits included permission to watch the 2016 European soccer championships, an increase from three to seven television channels, hard-boiled eggs at meals, and an additional NIS 200 ($128) for the canteen, although the letter did not say how often the extra money would be granted.

“It is unacceptable that Hamas prisoners will enjoy easy conditions and a host of benefits while the Hamas organization refuses to return our sons Oron and Hadar Goldin who were captured in Operation Protective Edge,” wrote the parents, also referring to another soldier whose remains are being held in Gaza.

Oron Shaul, Hadar Goldin and Avraham Mengistu. (Flash90/The Times of Israel)

“Hamas has so far avoided any humanitarian action required by international law regarding the passing on of information about prisoners,” they added.

The letter from Shaul’s parents was also sent to the ministerial committee tasked with the return of the bodies of the Israeli soldiers, as well as the return of two living Israelis being held captive in the Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri are on the panel.

The committee was set up following a cabinet meeting over whether to authorize a recent deal for normalization of relations with Turkey. Ankara was thought to be able to pressure Hamas into releasing the Israeli prisoners, but the final deal excluded any provisions on the captives or the missing soldiers.

Family and friends of Avraham Mengistu protest outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on June 26, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The families of Shaul, Goldin and Avraham Abera Mengistu — one of the captives who wandered into the Strip in 2014 and suffers from mental illness, according to his family — staged a protest at the main commercial crossing into the coastal enclave Sunday morning, as an initial shipment of Turkish aid was set to be transferred via the checkpoint.

The families have rallied against a detente deal between Israel and Turkey inked last week, which allowed for the transfer of aid to Gaza via the port of Ashdod but did not stipulate the return of Mengistu and the remains of the two soldiers.

Hisham sl-Sayid, who wandered into Gaza in April 2015 and has been missing and believed held by Hamas ever since. (Army Radio)

The father of the second Israeli hostage in Gaza, Sha’ban al-Sayed, whose son Hisham wandered into Gaza in April 2015 and has not been heard from since, said he disapproves of putting pressure on the Israeli government.

Al-Sayed told Army Radio on Tuesday that pressuring the Israeli government “will only hurt the interests of our boys.” He instead has argued the pressure must instead be placed on Hamas, which al-Sayed accused of mistreating his son. He said his son suffers from schizophrenia.

According to his father, Hisham had crossed into Gaza twice before and was returned to Israel, but the third time Hamas decided to keep him hostage while withholding any information about his condition.