Meshaal: Israel to free 1,027 prisoners for shalit

Leader of the Palestinian Hamas Movement Politburo Khaled Meshaal said Tuesday HAMAS had reached agreement with Israel on the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in return for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, captured near the Gaza Strip in 2006. Hailing a "national achievement" for Palestinians, Meshaal said in a televised statement that 450 prisoners would be released within a week, with the rest being freed in two months. The detainees being freed included all 27 female prisoners held by Israel. He said that 1,027 Palestinian prisoners would be freed in exchange for the captured Israeli soldier Shalit, . Meshaal called the deal a national Palestinian achievement that would strengthen unity. Meanwhile, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday welcomed the prisoners'' exchange deal between Israel and Hamas movement, according to a statement carried by the Palestinian news agency WAFA . "I welcome this concluded deal, which we have been anticipating for a long time," Abbas said, expressing hope that "all Palestinian prisoners would be released from Israeli jails." Abbas is currently in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, as part of his trip to several Latin American countries.(QNA) AK