Israel Matzav

Hamas tells al-Hayat it will kidnap more soldiers, Israel will lighten Gaza blockade

You will recall that General Security Service chief Yoram Cohen told us last week that Israel has not agreed not to harm the 'Palestinian' terrorists that Israel has agreed to release on Tuesday. On Friday, Hamas sources told the London-based al-Hayat daily exactly the opposite.

The source said that Hamas has also expected the naval blockade of Gaza to lighten following the conclusion of the exchange, Al Hayat reported.

The Jerusalem Post could not confirm this report.

A Hamas official in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, told Al Hayat that Israel was obligated to refrain from targeting any of the Palestinian prisoners as a part of the agreement.

Under the deal, Israel will immediately release 450 male prisoners on a list of names drawn up with Hamas, and another 27 female prisoners, and then get Schalit in return. Israel will then free another 550 prisoners of its own choosing in two months.

This was not the first time that Hamas said they would not reject a policy of IDF kidnappings.

On Wednesday, Abu Obaida, spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, Izzadin Kassam said that Schalit, who is set to be released as part of a prisoner exchange deal, "will not be the last solider kidnapped by Hamas as long as Israel keeps Palestinian prisoners detained."

YNet raises some doubts as to the reliability of the 'Palestinian' sources.

Highlighting the deal's positive aspects, the Hamas official said that Israel had ultimately agreed to releasing 54 out of 70 "heavy" prisoners which were the focus of previous negotiations, as well as some Arab-Israeli prisoners and former east Jerusalem residents. It should be noted that a senior Egyptian official said Thursday that only 40 "heavy" prisoners would be released.

Hamdan also addressed the second stage of the deal which will see 550 prisoners chosen by Israel and Egypt released. "Egypt is the only party to guarantee the implementation of stage B conditions," he said.

"According to the finalized conditions, prisoners of the second stage will be regarded as security prisoners rather than criminal inmates, they will come from all parts of the political spectrum and all areas. Their health state, prison sentenced and time served will all be taken into consideration."

What could go wrong?

Labels: Osama Hamdan, terrorists for Gilad trade, Yoram Cohen

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:19 PM