Hamas vows to kidnap more Israeli soldiers on Prisoner's Day

Gaza City - The Gaza Strip's ruling Islamic Hamas movement's armed wing on Saturday vowed to kidnap more Israeli soldiers to exchange them for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamas' threat was made as Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza marked the Palestinian Prisoner's Day on Saturday with rallies and a sit-in in front of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) offices.

Spokesman of al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing, Abu Obeida said in a press statement faxed to reporters that "the useless absurd peace talks failed to free the prisoners, but our fighters will release them by all means, including the armed resistance."

According to Palestinian and international rights groups, Israel is holding around 7,500 Palestinian and Arab prisoners in 10 prisons and three detention camps in Israel and the West Bank.

Hamas in June 2006 abducted the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid. It demands the release of around 1,000 Palestinian and Arab prisoners for in return for Shalit.

However, the mediation of both Egypt and Germany had so far failed to bridge the gaps to finalize a prisoners' swap deal between Hamas and Israel.

"The prisoners' deal [with Israel] is not the last and only hope for Hamas to release the prisoners, the hope is with the men of resistance who will continue their struggle until releasing all the prisoners," said Abu Obeida.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/319239,hamas-vows-to-kidnap-more-israeli-soldiers-on-prisoners-day.html.