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Haniyeh, claims victory
Photo: AFP
Celebrating release in Bitunia
Photo: Reuters

Haniyeh: Exchange victory for kidnappers

Hamas prime minister in Gaza holds press conference following released of 19 female Palestinian prisoners in exchange for video of captive soldier Gilad Shalit, expresses hope that 'release serves as prelude to honorable deal'

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh congratulated the female Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli prison on Friday in exchange for a video of captive soldier Gilad Shalit.

 

Haniyeh said this was a great victory for the Palestinian resistance. "This is an achievement for the Palestinian factions that captured Shalit," he said at a press conference in Gaza.

 

He expressed hope that "the prisoners' release serves as a prelude to an honorable deal", and congratulated all the factions on the release of the prisoners, and said Hamas considers the matter of the Palestinian prisoners a national issue, and therefore does not differentiate between different factions' prisoners.

 

Earlier Friday, 18 female Palestinian prisoners were released at Bitunia Checkpoint near Ramallah, where they were received by their families. Another prisoner was transferred to the Gaza Strip via Erez crossing, and the final prisoner is slated to be released on Sunday.


Receiving prisoners at Bitunia Checkpoint (Photo: Reuters)

 

"Within a minute we were out," 48-year-old released prisoner Zuhur Hamdan told Ynet, while still in an embrace with her nine children who came to greet her.

 

"There are prisoners here from all factions, and this must be a sign of the return of Palestinian unity. It was very important and we hope the other male and female prisoners left behind are released as well," she said.

 

After their release, the prisoners attended a short ceremony at the former PA President Yasser Arafat's grave site in Ramallah, and a formal ceremony awaits them at the Mukataa in the city later in the day, where they will be received by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

 

While Hamas was behind the deal, the absence of the organization's flags at Bitunia was prominent, despite the fact that four of the released prisoners are Hamas members.

 

Abbas' aide Rafiq Al-Husseini told Ynet the PA welcomes any opportunity to have prisoners released. He said, "The president will meet with them to thank them for their sacrifice and their struggle for the Palestinian people. We hope for the release of all the prisoners and hope the Palestinian people see all its prisoners released."

 

Roi Kais contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.02.09, 14:29
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