15/10/2011 12:01
Israel: 1027 Palestinian prisoners for one solider
The price Israel is paying to secure the release of the captured soldier Gilad Shalit emerged yesterday as the planned release of Palestinian militants involved in some of Israel's deadliest suicide bombings prompted outrage among the victim's families.
Websites linked to Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza strip, yesterday published the names of more than 400 militants to be freed early next week in the first phase of a swap. In total, 1,027 Palestinians prisoners will be released over a two-month period after a deal was brokered through Egyptian negotiators. Although Israel will not publicly release the names of those to be freed until Sunday morning, officials have already begun informing the families of victims.