Israel Frees Another Batch of 26 Palestinian Inmates – Report

MOSCOW, October 30 (RIA Novosti) – Israel has released another batch of 26 Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal to resume peace talks, media reported.

This was the second of four batches of 104 Palestinian inmates, whom Israeli authorities pledged to release as an act of good will in regard to the Palestinian authorities.

Five inmates were released in the Gaza Strip, and the remaining 21 sent to the West Bank, the BBC reported. Those freed were seen as political prisoners in the West Bank. The Israeli public was discontent with the decision.

The freed prisoners had spent between 19 and 28 years in prison. They were all convicted of murders, the British broadcaster said.

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© RIA Novosti

Israel and Palestine resumed long-stalled direct talks in Jerusalem in August.