Israel urged to free prisoners; Pals barred from Al-Aqsa

By: Ahmad Hammadi

GAZA: Israeli authorities barred Palestinian men under the age of 40 from reaching the walled Al Aqsa Mosque compound, fearing crowds of young men would assemble there to protest, and separately Palestinians have urged Israel on Friday to release all Palestinian prisoners or risk the collapse of the armistice.

Israeli political sources said the government is expected to consider releasing hundreds of prisoners on Sunday. But Hamas and Islamic Jihad say Israel must free all the thousands of Palestinians it holds.

“We have made it very clear that all prisoners must be released. Otherwise, it will be a serious violation to the truce,” Hamas said.

Islamic Jihad: “We are looking for the release of all the prisoners and the top priority are those serving long sentences... as well as women, children and sick people.”

In another development, the army said Friday it arrested in the West Bank 12 Palestinians most of them affiliated with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.

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