Hamas: Free Palestinians for Shalit

Hamas has vowed not to release captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit unless Tel Aviv agrees to its condition for the release of Palestinians held in its prisons.

“The Israeli occupation will not rejoice [with Gilad] Shalit without paying the price under the resistance movement’s conditions,” Ma’an news agency quoted senior Hamas member Salah al-Bardawil as saying on Monday.

“Freeing the prisoners is an [obligation] of each and every one of us, that won’t end until they are released,” he said at a speech during a ceremony in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.

The event was held in solidarity with more than 10,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza that remain in Israeli jails.

Speaking in front of the Red Cross headquarters in Khan Younis, the Palestinian Legislative Council member urged human rights organizations to step up efforts to free the Palestinian detainees.

Palestinian resistance fighters captured Shalit in 2006. Hamas is demanding the Israeli regime release around 900 Palestinians in return for his release — a demand that Tel Aviv has so far refused to heed.