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Gaza prisoner release delayed
02/10/2007 10:45 - (SA)
Jerusalem - Israel will release 29 Palestinian prisoners to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, officials said, after Israel's military chief and president held up the release over Gaza militants' refusal to release a captured Israeli soldier.
Israel had on Monday released 57 Palestinian prisoners to the West Bank in an effort to build trust between the sides ahead of a US-sponsored peace summit in November.
Hundreds of Gazans had gathered at a crossing with Israel in anticipation of the planned release of the Gaza prisoners as well.
But Israeli President Shimon Peres, who must authorise sentence commutations, did not sign off on the Gazans' release until late on Monday.
Security officials said military chief Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi sent Peres a letter saying it was "immoral" to release Gazans held by Israel while Gilad Shalit is held.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the letter was confidential. Peres' office would not comment on the affair.
Shalit captured in June 2006
Militants linked to the Islamic Hamas group that now rules Gaza captured Shalit in June 2006 after they tunnelled under a fence separating Gaza from Israel and attacked an Israeli army base. Two other soldiers were killed.
Israel's Cabinet approved the release last month to try to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate from Hamas' rival, Fatah, who rules over the West Bank and has little influence over goings-on in Gaza.
The release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails is for Palestinians key for reconciliation between the people since Israel holds about 11 000 prisoners, and many families have relatives held.
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