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Israeli defence minister scraps administrative detention for settlers amid ceasefire deal

Israel Katz's decision was reportedly made without the Shin Bet internal security service's 'consideration of its security implications'
A Palestinian man inspects the damage to a mosque following an attack by Israeli settlers in the town of Marda, near the West Bank city of Salfit, on 20 December 2024 (AFP)

The Israeli defence minister has cancelled administrative detention orders against settlers in the occupied West Bank, citing the expected release of Palestinians under the recent ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

According to the three-phase truce deal, 33 Israeli captives held in Gaza will be released in the first phase, including nine who are ill or wounded. Israel, in return, will release 1,000 Palestinians detained from 8 October 2023 onwards. 

On Friday, Israel Katz said that due to the expected release of Palestinians in the West Bank, he has decided to release all settlers held in administrative detention.

There are currently five settlers in administrative detention, all detained for violent acts against Palestinians.

He believes that the move would "convey a clear message of strengthening and encouraging the settlement, which is at the forefront of the struggle against Palestinian terrorism and facing growing security challenges".

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"It is better for the families of Jewish settlers to be happy than the families of released terrorists."

The decision by Katz was taken before cabinet discussions on approving the hostage deal, with the Israeli news outlet Yedioth Ahronoth (Ynet) labelling it as a "gift" to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. 

On Thursday, several far-right ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Smotrich, voiced opposition to the ceasefire agreement with Hamas and threatened to resign from the government. 

Ben Gvir said in a statement that a hostage swap deal would "release hundreds of terrorist killers" from Israel.

"We are prepared to pay a heavy price to free our kidnapped, but what is on the table is heavier than we can bear," he added. 

According to Israeli media, Katz's decision was not discussed with the Shin Bet, Israel's internal intelligence agency, beforehand and came as a shock. 

The Shin Bet was quoted as saying that "the decision was made without accepting the Shin Bet's consideration of its security implications".

Exchange of Israeli captives 

Israel and Hamas on Wednesday agreed to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, potentially bringing an end to Israel's devastating 15-month onslaught on the enclave, which has killed nearly 47,000 Palestinians.

Gaza ceasefire deal: What Israel and Hamas said vs what they've secured
Read More »

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani announced the deal during a press conference in Doha, saying the agreement will take effect on 19 January. 

The Qataris, alongside the Egyptians, helped negotiate the agreement with Israel, while the incoming US administration of President-elect Donald Trump applied pressure on the Israelis, Haaretz reported. 

The initial group of Israeli captives to be released includes several men over the age of 50. They will be released in exchange for Palestinians serving life sentences at a ratio of 1-to-3 and those serving other sentences at a ratio of 1-to-27.

Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu, who have been held in Gaza since before Israel's war on the enclave, will also be released in exchange for 60 Palestinian prisoners and 47 Palestinians who were re-arrested after being freed in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal.

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