Hamas calls on Egypt to release one of its members before ending Shalit case

Saturday October 18, 2008 12:29 by George Rishmawi - IMEMC & Agencies

Hamas demands that one of its leaders be released from Egyptian custody before letting go the captured soldier Gilad Shalit, Palestinian media sources reported.

“As long as Ayman Nofal is among detainees in Egyptian prisons the issue of Shalit will not move forward,” Al Qassam Brigades leader Yousef Farhat said last night.

This demand is seen as taking advantage of the proximity of Cairo talks with Israelis to prisoner swap.

The Israeli government has not responded positively to the list of prisoners nominated by Hamas for release in exchange of Shalit who has been captured in Gaza Strip since June 2006.

Egypt has taken a leading role in forging negotiations between Hamas and the Israelis on this issue. The central Gaza Strip spokesperson of the Hamas armed resistance wing is taking advantage of that role to garner the release of one of its members from Egyptian prison.

“We urgently request of the Egyptian government the immediate release of the Al Qassam Brigades commander detained in prison,” said Farhat.

Ayman Nofal’s extended imprisonment not only “hurts him but also serves the Israeli occupation,” Farhat continued.

Al Qassam Brigades staged a drill yesterday evening in the central Gaza Strip’s Al Bureij and Nuseirat refugee camps near the home of Ayman Nofal. A solidarity march began in western Nuseirat. Members of the armed resistance wing of Hamas said that Egypt was trying their patience.

Hamas political spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhari said that the continued detention of Nofal is a problem that has topped the agenda of all talks with Egyptian officials. He added that the remarks at Friday evening's event “reflect the frustration inside Hamas on this issue.”

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