Hamas to free Fatah prisoners in Gaza

26 Nov 2012, 6:23 am   -   Source: AAP
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The move comes three days after Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas telephoned Gaza's Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya to congratulate him 'on his victory and (offer) condolences for the martyrs'. (AAP)

The move comes three days after Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas telephoned Gaza's Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya to congratulate him 'on his victory and (offer) condolences for the martyrs'. (AAP)

Gaza's ruling Hamas movement says it will release all political prisoners from the rival Fatah movement.

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Gaza's ruling Hamas movement is to release all prisoners from the rival Fatah movement detained in connection with the political dispute between them, a spokesman says.

"The Hamas government has decided to pardon all cases against Fatah members which are related to the internal division since 2006," Hamas government spokesman Taher al-Nunu said at a news conference in Gaza City on Sunday.

He said the government had decided to set up a committee "to implement this decision and establish a new stage of reconciliation".

Interior ministry spokesman Islam Shahwan said there were 22 Fatah members in jail in Gaza.

The move comes three days after Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas telephoned Gaza's Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya to congratulate him "on his victory and (offer) condolences for the martyrs".

The conversation between the two rival Palestinian leaders came after an Egyptian-brokered truce with Israel ended on Wednesday eight days of fighting in and around Gaza, in which 166 Palestinians and six Israelis died.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights welcomed the decision, and in a statement said it hoped the move "will push forward the process of the Palestinian reconciliation talks, and that it will mark the end of the division, which has been ongoing for 6 years".

Tensions between Hamas and Fatah have been high since 2006, when the Islamist movement won the legislative elections in Gaza. Hamas seized power the following year, ending a power-sharing deal with the secular Fatah party of president Mahmoud Abbas.

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