Palestinians demand release of 10,000 prisoners

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-26-2006 08:45

Relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody continue to demand the release of 10,000 people in jail. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he could release some Palestinian prisoners as early as this week.

Several dozens of women gathered outside the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza city on Monday, calling for the release of their loved ones.

At a weekly cabinet meeting, three senior Israeli cabinet ministers proposed that Israel release some prisoners as a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before a Muslim holiday which starts later this week.

The Popular Resistance Committees, a coalition of militants, said Israel's intended release of some prisoners was not related to the prisoners swap deal under indirect negotiations with Israel.

Abu Mujahed, spokesman Popular Resistance Committees, said, "There are obstacles facing the swap deal and these obstacles are preventing the achievement of prisoners swap deal with the occupier Zionist entity."

Israel has freed some Palestinian prisoners as a holiday gesture in the past years.

And Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert suggested on Sunday that he could release some Palestinian prisoners as early as this week even though Gaza militants had not free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured in a cross-border raid in June.

Editor:Du Xiaodan