Israel to free 550 Palestinian prisoners

Final phase of prisoner swap for Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit will bring total of released detainees to 1,027.

18 Dec 2011 - Al Jazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/12/20111218133...

Israel has prepared to release 550 Palestinian prisoners in the second and final phase of a swap with the Hamas organization that brought home an Israeli soldier after five years in captivity.

Sunday's release will complete an Egyptian-brokered deal to exchange a total of 1,027 prisoners for Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Gaza fighters in June 2006. Schalit returned home in October when Israel freed the first batch of 477 prisoners.

The October 18 return of Schalit, who appeared pale and thin but otherwise healthy, was the first public sighting of him since his capture, and the plight of the young man had captured Israel's attention for years.

The prisoners that Israel freed in the first round included dozens of militants serving life sentences for involvement in deadly attacks. Their releases set off ecstatic celebration in the Palestinian territories, particularly Hamas' Gaza stronghold.

Popularity boost

Under the terms of the deal, Israel was choosing the prisoners to be freed Sunday. Prison officials said most are serving light sentences or near the end of their terms, and only 41 were returning to Gaza.

More than 500 were being sent to the West Bank, which is ruled by Hamas' rival, President Mahmoud Abbas, and most of them were believed to be linked to Abbas' Fatah movement.

Israel is interested in bolstering Abbas at a time when groups like Hamas are gaining in power throughout the Middle East. Hamas enjoyed a huge boost of popularity following the October release.

The Palestinians have been divided between two rival governments since Hamas ousted Abbas' forces and seized control of Gaza in 2007. Abbas, who favors a negotiated peace settlement with Israel, has governed only in the West Bank since then.

'Great achievement'

In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the movement welcomed the release of all prisoners, regardless of their political affiliation.

"We are proud of this great achievement," he said.

He said Hamas leaders would welcome all returning prisoners, and offer them assistance with housing, employment and finding a spouse.

After the release, some 4,250 Palestinians will remain in Israeli prisons for security-related offences, the Israel Prison Service said. That is down from almost 5,300 before the Shalit deal, although new arrests have since been made, and others have been released.