Wasfi Kabha Explained

Wasfi Kabha
Office:Minister of Prisoners' Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority
Term Start:March 2006
Term End:March 2007
Predecessor:?
Successor:Ashraf al-Ajrami
Office2:Minister of State in Palestinian National Unity Government
Term Start2:March 2007
Birth Date:19 June 1959[1]
Birth Place:Barta'a, West Bank
Death Place:Barta'a
Nationality:Palestinian

Wasfi Kabha (Arabic: وصفي كبهة) (1959 – November 2021) was a Palestinian politician. He was Minister of Prisoners' Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority in the Palestinian Government of March 2006 and Minister of State in Palestinian National Unity Government of March 2007. He was one of the most prominent leaders of the Islamic movement in the West Bank.[2]

After the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007, President Mahmoud Abbas acquitted all Hamas cabinet members including Kabha, who was replaced by Ashraf al-Ajrami.

Israeli detention

Wasfi Kabha was kidnapped by the Israeli authorities in June 2006, along with other Hamas ministers and parliament members in a clampdown against their organization.[3] During his nearly five-week detainment he claimed to have been abused by his interrogators.[4]

Kabha was seized again in May of 2007[5] and detained for three years.[6]

On 21 May 2015, he was released by the Israeli authorities after spending 10 months in administrative detention.[2]

Death

Kabha died of complications from COVID-19 in Barta'a in November 2021, at the age of 69.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150116220751/http://www.el3en.com/index.php/islamiat/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%87%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7.html . ar:الاسير الوزير وصفي قبها . 16 January 2015 . http://www.el3en.com/index.php/islamiat/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%87%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7.html . El Ayn . 19 December 2012 . ar.
  2. Web site: Israel releases ex-minister after 10 months in prison . https://web.archive.org/web/20150528184642/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/18791-israel-releases-ex-minister-after-10-months-in-prison . 2015-05-28 . The Middle East Monitor . 22 May 2015.
  3. Web site: Israel seizes Hamas legislators . BBC . 26 June 2024 . 29 June 2006.
  4. Web site: Detainees accuse Israel of abuse . BBC News . 2 August 2006 . 26 June 2024.
  5. Web site: Abu Taha . Hisham . Mar’i . Mohammed . Israel Kills Seven Palestinians, Arrests Minister . Arab News . 26 June 2024 . 27 May 2007.
  6. Web site: Cohen . Rachel . The Administrative Detentions of Wasfi Kabha . Daily Beast . 26 June 2024 . 18 June 2013.
  7. Web site: Palestinians bid farewell to former Minister of Prisoners Wasfi Qabha . Ilkha . 12 November 2021 . 26 June 2024.