The Hamas military wing reportedly says it will increase the number of Palestinian prisoners it will demand from Israel in a potential prisoner exchange deal if Israel does not comply to the demands of the hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
According to Israel’s Army Radio, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades tells Israel that for each day it continues to ignore the demands of striking Palestinian prisoners, it will add 30 more prisoners to its demands in a potential prisoner exchange in the future.
Hamas is currently demanding the release of 60 prisoners from its ranks who were re-arrested by Israel after being freed in 2011 exchange.
According to Palestinian figures, around 1,500 prisoners, mostly from the Fatah organization and including many convicted terrorists, are taking part in the open-ended hunger strike announced two weeks ago in a bid to improve their conditions in Israeli prisons.
The Israel Prison Service puts the current number of strikers at around 820, and says 300 have already dropped out.
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Tuesday, May 2, 2017
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