Gaza – Ma'an – The release of nearly 20 Palestinian women for a videotape of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was a victory for the Palestinian resistance movement, de facto Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said on Friday.
Speaking at a ceremony for recently released female prisoner Fatmah Az-Zeq and her infant child Yousef, he said the swap was "a victory for the resistance and the Palestinian will," adding that it "opened the door for a respectable deal."
In brief remarks, Az-Zeq said, "My happiness is not total, because I left other women behind in the Israeli jails that are waiting to be released - in addition to every other prisoner."
Haniyeh also praised Egypt and Germany for their collective role in wrapping up the deal, which saw Israel release nearly 20 female Palestinians in exchange for a video of Shalit that proved he was still alive.
The Gaza leader said the Islamic movement had handled the exchange in a way that put national interests first, by demanding that women and girls affiliated with various factions be released rather than just Hamas.
Speaking at a ceremony for recently released female prisoner Fatmah Az-Zeq and her infant child Yousef, he said the swap was "a victory for the resistance and the Palestinian will," adding that it "opened the door for a respectable deal."
In brief remarks, Az-Zeq said, "My happiness is not total, because I left other women behind in the Israeli jails that are waiting to be released - in addition to every other prisoner."
Haniyeh also praised Egypt and Germany for their collective role in wrapping up the deal, which saw Israel release nearly 20 female Palestinians in exchange for a video of Shalit that proved he was still alive.
The Gaza leader said the Islamic movement had handled the exchange in a way that put national interests first, by demanding that women and girls affiliated with various factions be released rather than just Hamas.
