Haniyeh urges Arab countries to cut ties with Israel

Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Monday urged Arab governments to cut ties with Israel until Palestinians have an independent state. In a speech to released prisoners and their families ahead of Prisoners Day, Haniyeh called on regional states to expel Israeli ambassadors and not to normalize relations with Tel Aviv. Egypt and Jordan have both signed peace treaties with Israel and share full diplomatic relations. The Hamas leader urged resistance groups to make plans to secure the release of prisoners. In 2011, Israel released over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for an Israeli soldier captured by Gaza militants in 2006. Freeing prisoners is "a national, legal and ethical duty," Haniyeh added.