PLC members visit Hamas affiliate released from Israeli jail

Date: 16 / 05 / 2009 Time: 15:38

Gaza – Ma’an – A delegation from the Hamas-affiliated Change and Reform bloc visited Mohammad Al-Ay, who was released from Israeli prison after 17 years of imprisonment.

The members of the Palestinian Legislative Council visited Al-Ay at his house near the At-Tufah neighborhood in Gaza City on Saturday.

Among the PLC members were deputy head of the bloc Ismail Al-Ashqar, Salem Salamah, Musheer Al-Masri, Jamal Iskiek and Imad A’fanah, general manager of the bloc in Gaza City.

In a statement, the delegates expressed their joy for Al-Ay’s release after 17 years of imprisonment, having moved from one Israeli jail to another throughout the sentence.

According to Al-Ay, the Hamas affiliates have continued to reject wearing orange prison uniforms, which he said amounted to an Israeli attempt to pressure Hamas' political leadership to give up conditions for a prisoner swap for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held in Gaza since 2006.