Israel to release 2 Hamas lawmakers

HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israel will release two Hamas lawmakers from Hebron on Thursday, after being held in Israeli custody for 56 months without charge.

The men were held in detention, and had the period of their detention extended four times by an Israeli court.

On 16 August, an Israeli court reduced the sentences of Nezar Ramadan and Azzam Salhab, Hamas-affiliated officials elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council, by eight days.

The court ruled that the Hamas MPs should be released on 8 September instead of 16 September, their original release date.

In June, recently-released Hamas MP Mohammad Abu Teir was detained near his home in East Jerusalem after Israel's interior ministry revoked his residency rights over his political affiliation.

Abu Teir was remanded into custody until his trial in November, after he was indicted for illegally residing in Jerusalem following his decision not to adhere to a deportation order handed down to him and three other elected Hamas officials.