Mishaal: The deal stipulates release of 1027 Palestinian captives

Mishaal: The deal stipulates release of 1027 Palestinian captives

[ 11/10/2011 - 09:36 PM ]

DAMASCUS, (PIC)-- Head of the Hamas political bureau, Khaled Mishaal, revealed that the prisoner exchange deal reached between Hamas and the Israeli occupation through German and Egyptian mediation, stipulates the release of 1027 Palestinian captives in exchange for Israeli captive Gilad Shalit. In a televised speech on Tuesday evening Mishaal said: "The exchange deal will be in two stages; the first stage will see 450 captives released within a week, the second stage will see the release of 550 after two months of the first stage." He also said that all 27 female captives will be released and the first stage will include 315 captives serving life sentences. He added that his movement was keen on including captives who entered prison at various stages of the Palestinian struggle from various factions as well as captives from various areas; Jerusalem, 1948-occupied Palestine, the Golan and the diaspora, pointing out this was an expression of the unity of the Palestinian people everywhere. Mishaal described the deal as a “national achievement,” adding “To my brothers in the PA and Palestinian factions inside and outside Palestine I say this achievement belongs to all of us. We are proud of it and prepare for further achievements. Let us join hands and plan for more achievements for our national project until we liberate out Palestine and establish our state." He promised that his movement will spare no efforts to get the rest of the Palestinian captives released. He praised the Qassam Brigades and other Palestinian factions who participated in capturing the occupation soldier Gilad Shalit to exchange him for Palestinian captives