Hatem Qafisha
Encyclopedia
Hatem Qafisha (1963- ) is a current member of the Palestinian Legislative Council
(PLC) representing Hebron
. He is affiliated with the Hamas
movement.
to Southern Lebanon
in December 1992 for his membership in the organization. When he returned to the West Bank
in 1993, he recorded his time in exile in a series of articles in the Al-Quds
newspaper. He intended to publish a memoir, but Israeli prison guards confiscated his writings.
He campaigned for a seat in the PLC from his prison cell and was elected in January 2006. On November 6, 2007, the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) seized Qafisha from his home in Hebron as a part of series of arrests of Hamas members following the capturing of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit
by Palestinian
militants. He was held in administrative detention in the Ketziot
prison in the Negev Desert until his release on November 1, 2009. In total, Qafisha has been detained by Israel on six occasions. While in prison, Qafisha reportedly completed a PhD through correspondence courses. As a PLC member, he is working to promote sporting activities in the West Bank which includes plans to renovate the Hussein Stadium in Hebron. These plans have been put on hold since his imprisonment.
Palestinian Legislative Council
The Palestinian Legislative Council, the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, is a unicameral body with 132 members, elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza...
(PLC) representing Hebron
Hebron
Hebron , is located in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judean Mountains, it lies 930 meters above sea level. It is the largest city in the West Bank and home to around 165,000 Palestinians, and over 500 Jewish settlers concentrated in and around the old quarter...
. He is affiliated with the Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
movement.
Biography
Qafisha was one of over 400 Hamas activists deported by IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
to Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon is the geographical area of Lebanon comprising the South Governorate and the Nabatiye Governorate. These two entities were divided from the same province in the early 1990s...
in December 1992 for his membership in the organization. When he returned to the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
in 1993, he recorded his time in exile in a series of articles in the Al-Quds
Al-Quds (newspaper)
Al-Quds is a Palestinian Arabic language daily newspaper, based in Jerusalem. It is published in broadsheet format. It is the largest circulation daily newspaper in the Palestinian territories. It was founded in 1951 by Mahmoud Abu-Zalaf, who served as its editor-in-chief until his death in 2005...
newspaper. He intended to publish a memoir, but Israeli prison guards confiscated his writings.
He campaigned for a seat in the PLC from his prison cell and was elected in January 2006. On November 6, 2007, the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF) seized Qafisha from his home in Hebron as a part of series of arrests of Hamas members following the capturing of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit
Gilad Shalit
Gilad Shalit is an Israeli – French citizen and Israel Defense Forces soldier. On 25 June 2006, he was captured inside Israel by Hamas militants in a cross-border raid via underground tunnels near the border with Gaza. The Hamas militants held him for over five years, until he was released on...
by Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
militants. He was held in administrative detention in the Ketziot
Ktzi'ot Prison
Ktzi'ot Prison is an Israeli detention facility located in the Haluza sand dunes region. It is Israel's largest detention facility in terms of land area, encompassing ....
prison in the Negev Desert until his release on November 1, 2009. In total, Qafisha has been detained by Israel on six occasions. While in prison, Qafisha reportedly completed a PhD through correspondence courses. As a PLC member, he is working to promote sporting activities in the West Bank which includes plans to renovate the Hussein Stadium in Hebron. These plans have been put on hold since his imprisonment.