Palestinian detainee enters his 32nd year in detention
The Palestinian Ministry of Detainees reported that detainee Fakhri Al Barghouthi, 56, from the Central West Bank city of Ramallah, entered his 32nd year in Israeli prisons, and became the second oldest detainees after Na'el Al Barghouthi.
Riyadh Al Ashqar, head of the Media Department at the Ministry stated that Fakhri was kidnapped on June 23, 1978, and was sentenced to a life term after being convicted of killing an Israeli officer.
In 2007, Al Barghouthi managed to hug his children for the first time since his arrest after 29 years in prison. He met them not because he was release, but because they were also detained by the army, and he met them in prison.
Al Ashqar stated that the detainees are hoping to be release under a prisoner-swap deal.
He also said that there are 327 detainees who spent a minimum of 15 years behind bars, including 20 who were detained more than 20 years ago, 12 detained more than 25 years ago, and two who were detained more than 30 years ago.
The two oldest detainees are Na'el Barghouthi, detained on April 4, 1978, and detainee Fakhri Barghouthi, detained June 23, 1978.
The ministry called on the fighters holding the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, captive since June 2006 to remain steadfast on their demands on the release of detainees who spent many years in prison, beside the release of sick detainees, and the detained women and children.
