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More Arab prisoners to be freed
Photo: Reuters

Hamas: Israel to free old, sick

Terror group spokesman reveals details of second phase in Shalit swap, says Israel to release 550 prisoners according to criteria set by Hamas; nine female inmates still in jail to be freed in days, Hamas says

The second phase of the Gilad Shalit swap will see Israel releasing 550 Palestinian prisoners, according to criteria set by Hamas, a group spokesman said Wednesday.

 

Although Israel can choose the identities of the inmates to be freed, it must meet certain criteria, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida said. He stressed that priority would be given to releasing sick and older detainees who committed security offences rather than criminal offences.

 

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The Hamas military wing spokesman added that priority would also be given to prisoners who served more than 20 years in prison, but that inmates who are about to complete their jail term will not be freed.

 

Egypt will be mediating the swap's second phase and will guarantee its execution, Abu Obeida said. He added that he expects Israel to live up to its part of the bargain as it has no interest in breaching the agreement.

 

Meanwhile, Hamas is also hoping to see Israel releasing the nine Arab female prisoners still in jail in the coming days. Before the swap, Hamas said it secured the release of all female detainees, yet shortly before the exchange it turned out that only 27 females will be freed, out of 36 held in Israeli jails.

 

Hamas threatened to call off the deal should the other women not be released in the first phase of the swap, but later retracted its threat. However, Hamas' minister for prisoner affairs, Saleh al-Aruri, said Wednesday that "the nine female prisoners will be freed within days, and before the second phase of the prisoner swap."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.19.11, 23:34
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