Hamas Says Determined to Secure Release of Palestinian Prisoners
Speaking at a program on the 9th anniversary of Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, also known as Wafa al-Ahrar, the largest prisoner exchange agreement by which 1027 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails, Haniyeh said, “We insist on and are resolved to gain another victory in the release of Palestinian prisoners.”
He stressed that the resistance movement attaches great importance to the release of prisoners, Maan news agency reported.
Haniyeh also paid tribute to the hunger striking Palestinian prisoner Maher al-Akhras, who has been held without charge by Israel and is in critical condition following a hunger strike of nearly 90 days.
In 2006, Palestinian groups captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and held him for five years before freeing him in exchange for the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The agreement which was mediated by Egypt has been the largest prisoner exchange agreement Israel has ever made for a single soldier.
