The Palestinian Prisoners’ Center for Studies confirmed that the number of Palestinian deputies kidnapped has dropped to 12, most of them under administrative detention, after the release of MP Samira Abdullah Al-Halayqa (53 years) from the village of Al-Shuyukh in Hebron after two months of detention.

   The media spokesman and researcher Riyad al-Ashqar said that the number of deputies kidnapped by the occupation has increased since the beginning of this year, which saw the abduction of (7) of the deputies. The occupation has issued administrative arrest decisions against 9 of the kidnapped MPs, while next month will release the Jerusalemite MP “Mohammed Abutair” after his 17-month sentence is over.

   Al-Ashqar said that the continued detention of deputies is a political decision par excellence, and it comes to reduce their active role in the Palestinian street and their participation in the activities condemning the policy of occupation in the West Bank, and to drive them away from the grassroots base around them.

   Al-Ashqar renewed his call on all parliaments to stand up to their responsibilities and press the occupation to stop violating international laws and covenants by abducting elected deputies because that is a blatant violation of their immunity.