Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Reuters: US military carried out a new strike targeting a ship in the Caribbean Sea
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli raids targeted a cement plant, an asphalt factory, and fuel tanks in the Ansar area in South Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A series of violent Israeli raids targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of the town of Shmestar in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon
Donald Trump will speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday: White House
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes raid the town of Bnaafoul, Saida district
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Palestinian shot and killed by IOF east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip

At 84, oldest Palestinian in Israeli prisons free after 17 years

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Mar 2023 18:59
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

Fouad Al-Shobaki was arrested by the Israeli occupation in 2006 on charges of attempting to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip in 2002.

  • x
  • At 84, oldest Palestinian in IOF prisons released after 17 years
    Major General Fouad Al-Shobaki raising a victory sign after being released from Israeli occupation prisons on March 13, 2023

The Israeli authorities released on Monday the oldest Palestinian prisoner, Major General Fouad Al-Shobaki, 84, from Askalan prison after 17 years in captivity, the Palestinian Ma'an Agency reported.

According to the Palestinian News Agency Wafa, in addition to battling prostate cancer, Al-Shobaki also suffers from numerous health issues in his eyes, stomach, and heart, in addition to high blood pressure.

Local Palestinian websites circulated videos of Al-Shobaki raising the sign of victory. Fouad Hijazi Muhammad Al-Shobaki was born in Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza on March 12, 1940. He is also a politician, a military general, and a member of the Fatah movement.

Read more: After 40 years in Israeli occupation prisons, Karim Younis is free

مصادر محلية : "لحظة استقبال شيخ الأسرى اللواء فؤاد الشوبكي (83 عامًا) بعد 17 عامًا قضاها في سجون الاحتلال" pic.twitter.com/oUj8gFfZr1

— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) March 13, 2023

In a statement, the Palestinian Hamas movement congratulated Al-Shobaki upon his release from the Israeli occupation prison.

"We renew our vow to our prisoners that their cause will remain our top priority until their liberation from the prisons of the Israeli occupation."

Al-Shobaki served as a Major General in the Palestinian security forces where he was responsible for the central military financial administration in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Tunisia.

Related News

Palestinian Resistance remains steadfast, victorious Larijani says

Hamas hails prisoner release as national milestone for Palestine

The Israeli occupation accused him of being the mastermind behind an attempt to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip back in 2002 on a ship called Karen A. The Palestinian Authority then, under the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, was also accused of being behind the attempt.

Read more: After 40 years in Israeli occupation prisons, Maher Younis is free

Karen A, the ship allegedly carrying weapons, was raided and apprehended by Israeli special forces in the Red Sea on January 3, 2002, under an operation dubbed "Noah's Ark".

To deny these accusations and confirm that the Palestinian Authority had nothing to do with the ship, Arafat placed Al-Shobaki under arrest in a prison in the city of Ariha, where he was under British and American supervision.

After Arafat's death in 2004, the IOF invaded Areeha and kidnapped Al-Shobaki from the Palestinian prison. He was arrested along with the Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmed Saadat, in addition to their comrades, Ahed Abu Ghulamy, Hamdi Qaraan, Basil Asmar, Majdi Al-Rimawi, and Yasser Abu Turki; a group belonging to the Popular Front whom "Israel" accuses of assassinating the Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi.

Read more: Ahmad Abu Ali, Palestinian prisoner killed by medical negligence

The occupation military court sentenced him to 20 years in prison, which was later reduced to 17 years.

In 2011, Al-Shobaki was denied by the Israeli occupation to attend his wife's funeral after her passing, leaving six children behind living as orphans.

The Israeli authorities refused the early release of the elderly prisoner 8 months before he completed his unjust sentence despite his deteriorating critical health condition.

  • Palestinian Prisoners
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Israeli prison
  • Wafa

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
The bodies of deceased Palestinians, held by Israel during the war, lie in plastic bags on the floor of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, following their release, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' returns 30 Palestinian bodies; some bear marks of torture

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of war debris as crisis deepens
Politics

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of debris, 20,000 lingering UXOs

Ex-White House adviser Ashley Tellis charged over secret files
Politics

Ex-White House advisor accused of amassing troves of top secret files

An Israeli soldier rests by a mobile artillery unit at a gathering point on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern “Israel”, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Global arms bans isolate 'Israel', yet its war machine keeps running

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS