Israeli Authorities Charge Released Palestinian Prisoner with Traffic Violation

Israeli authorities have filed charges against a Palestinian for riding in a car without a seatbelt while celebrating his release from prison under the ceasefire with Hamas.

Israeli police said Wednesday that Ashraf Zaghir, 46, and two of his family members “stood inside a moving vehicle with their upper bodies outside the car, without seat belts, recklessly endangering themselves and others” in violation of traffic laws.

Israel has tried to stamp out public expressions of joy over the release of prisoners. Hundreds of Palestinians have been released in recent weeks in exchange for the release of hostages abducted by Hamas in its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.

Zaghir was convicted of transporting a suicide bomber in a 2002 attack that killed six people and wounded dozens. It was not clear if Israel planned to arrest him again over the traffic violations.

aawsat.com