Hamas has released most of the Fatah leaders arrested at this week's rally in which Hamas killed eight people and wounded 100 others. Deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said that those who were involved in "riots and disturbances" still are being held in custody.
The release comes after the incident reinforced an increasingly negative image of the terrorist organization. Rival faction leader and Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas termed Hamas "a criminal gang killing people in cold blood." Haniyeh replied that Abbas should "release Hamas prisoners from its jails."