Both the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria and the Hamas-led breakaway PA in Gaza are releasing prisoners this week in honor of the Eid ul-Fitr holiday. Fatah will set free dozens of prisoners affiliated with Hamas, while Hamas will release prisoners linked to al-Qaeda.
Hamas released a total of 170 prisoners in honor of the holiday, 50 of them “security prisoners” - terrorists belonging to organizations other than Hamas. Among the security prisoners were members of Fatah and men belonging to the Al-Qaeda linked group Jund Ansar Allah.
Hamas and Jund Ansar Allah clashed in the city of Rafiah one month ago after members of Jund Ansar Allah declared an Islamic caliphate. More than 20 people were killed in the battle, among them Jund Ansar Allah's leader, Abdel-Latif Moussa.
Gaza Minister of Justice Mohammed al-Ghoul said the prisoner release was not meant as a gesture to Fatah. Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas's leader in Gaza, said the terrorists were released in order to “promote tolerance in Gaza.”
The prisoners were briefly displayed to media prior to their release.
Members of Jund Ansar Allah have vowed to take revenge on Hamas for the August battle in which many members of the group were killed. No further clashes have been reported since Moussa was killed; however, bombs were recently detonated late at night near several Hamas positions in Gaza, causing damage but no casualties.