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]

Wasfi Kabha
Minister of Prisoners' Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority
In office
March 2006 – March 2007
Preceded by?
Succeeded byAshraf al-Ajrami
Minister of State in Palestinian National Unity Government
Assumed office
March 2007
Personal details
Born19 June 1959[1]
Barta'a, West Bank
Died2021 (aged 61–62)
Barta'a
NationalityPalestinian

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

  1. ^ الاسير الوزير وصفي قبها. El Ayn (in Arabic). 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Israel releases ex-minister after 10 months in prison". The Middle East Monitor. 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Israel seizes Hamas legislators". BBC. 29 June 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Detainees accuse Israel of abuse". BBC News. 2 August 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  5. ^ Abu Taha, Hisham; Mar’i, Mohammed (27 May 2007). "Israel Kills Seven Palestinians, Arrests Minister". Arab News. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  6. ^ Cohen, Rachel (18 June 2013). "The Administrative Detentions of Wasfi Kabha". Daily Beast. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Palestinians bid farewell to former Minister of Prisoners Wasfi Qabha". Ilkha. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2024.