Kidnapped Egyptian diplomat freed
Qatar’s al-Jazeera television network reported Friday that an unknown Palestinian group calling itself the Brigade of the Free claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The group demanded Egypt releases all Palestinians detained in Egyptian jails
Masked gunmen kidnapped Husam al-Masri, Egypt's military attaché in Gaza, from his home Wednesday afternoon.
Qatar’s al-Jazeera television network reported Friday that an unknown Palestinian group calling itself the Brigade of the Free claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The group demanded Egypt releases all Palestinians detained in Egyptian jails.
The group said in a statement that it released the Egyptian diplomat because it is “seeking justice and freedom and is not interested in harming our Egyptian brothers.” In the statement the group vowed to carry on its struggle to free Palestinians detained in Egyptian jails, warning that it will use all means to achieve its goal.
The kidnappers said Egypt “bears full responsibility” for future kidnappings they carry out.
Egypt played a key role in inducing Hamas and other terror organizations to agree to a truce and temporarily cease attacks against Israel. It recently withdrew a security team dispatched to Gaza to train Palestinian police and intelligence.
The Gaza Strip witnessed a series of kidnappings of foreigners in the continuing power struggle between warring Palestinian factions.
