Israel frees Palestinian prisoners
27/12/2004 - 08:31:36Israel was releasing 159 Palestinian prisoners today, as a gesture to the new Palestinian leadership and as part of a swap with Egypt.
Dozens of prisoners arrived at drop-off points in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the releases were to continue throughout the day.
Carrying their belongings in bags, six prisoners crossed the Erez checkpoint into Gaza, where relatives waited to greet them.
Fifty-nine prisoners arrived at the Tarkumiyeh checkpoint near the West Bank city of Hebron.
Israel holds an estimated 7,000 Palestinians in its prisons, a point of contention between the sides.
Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas demanded in a campaign speech on Saturday that Israel release all the prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti, a prominent uprising leader.
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