Hamas frees Fatah captives ahead of Ramadan

The Islamist Palestinian group Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, freed some 50 prisoners of the rival Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, calling it a gesture for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Fatah says at least 300 of its members were detained in Gaza by Hamas. The Islamist group says nearly 900 of its members are held in jails in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Fatah dominates. (Reuters)