GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza released 45 prisoners affiliated with rival Palestinian faction Fatah on Feb. 25. In a statement, it said the released prisoners were arrested over security issues that harmed resistance groups in Gaza, adding their arrests were not politically motivated. The ministry said the move was part of efforts to improve the atmosphere ahead of the upcoming Palestinian general elections. It said there are no prisoners "arrested for their political views and opinion" in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh asked on Feb .22 the Hamas group to release more than 80 “political prisoners” held in Gaza prisons.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued Feb. 20 a decree ordering that public freedoms be observed, including the freedom to engage in political activity, in accordance with the Palestinian Basic Law and other relevant law provisions.

The decree, which is binding on all parties in the Palestinian territories, prohibits the prosecution, detention, arrest, apprehension and all forms of unlawful accountability for reasons related to freedom of opinion and political affiliation.

The decree also calls for the release of all detainees and prisoners jailed for political affiliation or for expressing their opinion, or imprisoned on charges of any other party-related or faction-related reasons in the Palestinian territories. In addition, it provides for the freedom to electoral campaigning, be it traditional, digital or printed, to hold political and electoral meetings, and to receive electoral funding in accordance with the law. The decree also sets forth equal opportunity to media access for all electoral lists without any discrimination by law.