Nail al-Bergusi, Leader of Palestinian Prisoners, to be Released After 45 Years
Nail al-Bergusi, the Longest-serving Palestinian Prisoner, to be Released
Nail al-Bergusi, known as the “leader of the Palestinian prisoners” and having been detained for over 45 years, is among the prisoners scheduled to be released. His wife, Faith Nafi, announced that many prisoners will be released either on Thursday or Saturday after contacting their families.
Faith Nafi stated that Bergusi accepted the condition of exile as part of his release, a condition he previously rejected. However, the destination of his exile has not yet been determined. According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, detainees are contacting their families from the offices of Israeli intelligence units to update them on their situation.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had previously mentioned that the released Palestinians would be sent out of the country. Some of the prisoners set to be released, who will be exiled out of Palestine, include Nail al-Bergusi, Osman Bilal, Bilal Ganım, HAMAS leader Abdunnasır Jesus, Zekeriya Zübe, and former MP Halide Cerrar.
The deportation of these prisoners out of the country is said to be a measure to reduce security risks that they may pose if they were to return to the West Bank. Nail al-Bergusi, known for being the longest-serving political prisoner in Israeli prisons, was first arrested in 1978 at the age of 19.
Following a brief period of freedom in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, Nail al-Bergusi was re-arrested in 2014 for the alleged involvement in the “kidnapping and killing of 3 Jewish settlers.” Despite his long history of imprisonment, Bergusi has maintained his status as a prominent figure among Palestinian prisoners.
In 2017, an Israeli Military Court in the West Bank sentenced Bergusi to life in prison plus an additional 18 years. The upcoming release of Nail al-Bergusi and other Palestinian prisoners marks a significant development in the ongoing conflicts in the region.
