Nael, fron the town of Kober in Ramallah, is the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner. He is serving a life sentence and an additional 18 years after he was first arrested by Israeli forces on April 4, 1978 for engaging in attacks against the Israeli military. He was released 34 years later in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. However, he was rearrested in 2014 and his sentence reinstated following “secret claims” made against him.

Appeals

On December 4, 2022, the Israeli military court in Ofer Prison rejected a petition calling for it to release Nael. In a statement the Palestinian Prisoners Club (PPC) said that the Ofer Military Court decided to maintain the sentence against Nael, citing a “secret file” against him. His defence lawyer filed a petition with the Israeli High Court four years ago demanding Al-Barghouthi’s release based on the terms of the prisoner swap deal which states that Israel cannot re-arrest freed prisoners and reinstate their sentences. At least 47 Palestinians who were freed under the terms of the 2011-prisoner swap deal have been rearrested and had their sentences reinstated, Palestinian sources said.