Libya Releases Four Hamas Members; What To Expect?
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Hashim Sheikh
- . December 2, 2023
- . Update: December 2, 2023 4:57 pm
Libya, a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa, released four Hamas members – Marwan al-Ashqar, his son Baraa, Mouayad Abed and Nasib Choubeir — to take solidarity actions in support of Hamas amid the war in Gaza.
On Friday, Libya released four members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. They were arrested in 2016 on charges related to trafficking arms to the Gaza Strip. They were reportedly sentenced in 2019 to jail terms ranging from 17 to 22 years.
According to knowledgeable sources, they were arrested on the request of the United States. They were released on Friday at the request of the Libyan prosecutor’s office after Turkish mediation.
According to Israeli authorities, following the outbreak of the war on 7 October, Hamas began calling on Libya to release its members. Libya agreed to free the four members.
Their release comes amid the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Israel-Hamas war triggers wave of solidarity in Libya
The Israel-Hamas war has taken the MENA region by storm. In Libya, demonstrators gathered to show support in favor of Palestine and Hamas.
In Libya, the 5 El- Emad tower was also illuminated in the colors of the Palestinian flag in support. The Libyan government also voiced support for Hamas amid the war.
In August, Palestine lauded Libya’s stance of refusing to normalize relations with Israel. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh also sacked Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush after she held a meeting with Eli Cohen, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel, in Rome.
Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh also visited the Palestinian Embassy in Tripoli to reiterate his government’s support for Palestinians.
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Israel-Hamas war
The Israel-Hamas war started on 7 October, a Sabbath day and a date of several Jewish holidays. The war killed more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals.
Hamas also said that the war killed thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. According to Hamas, Israeli strikes have killed more than 15,000 people, including hostages.
Since October 7, crime against women, elderly and children in Israel and the Gaza Strip have increased. The cross-border attack has affected the lives of people in the region. They have been suffering because of the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters.
