Mahmoud Abu Tir
Photo: AP
Israel to release Hamas' Abu Tir Thursday
Muhammad Abu Tir, who was arrested after Gilad Shalit's abduction, will be released after four years in jail. Israel still holds 12 Hamas official arrested after kidnapping
Senior Hamas official Muhammad Abu Tir, who was arrested shortly after IDF soldier Gilad Shalit's abduction, will be released from Israeli prison on Thursday, the Israel Prison Service confirmed Wednesday.
Abu Tir was arrested in June of 2006, following a security forces raid during which 60 senior Hamas members, including ministers, legislators and operatives, were arrested.
He was detained in Jerusalem, by Police Central Unit Minorities Squad officers.
Nine other Hamas officials have been released from Israeli prisons in recent months, including Aziz Dwaik, head of the Hamas parliament, and former Prisoners Affairs Minister Wasfi Kabha.
Israel still holds 12 Hamas legislators in custody.
