Gaza government Minister of Prisoners Affairs, Riyad Al-Ashqar, said the two "were supposed to be released last week, but the Israeli authorities have delayed their release for several days without giving reasons."
The five released prisoners would be met by family and friends at the Erez crossing, the official added.
The five were identified as:
- Abed Al-Hamid Atallah Al-A'kerm, from Rafah, who served seven years having been arrested on July 8, 2004.
- Ahmad Salem Hamdan Al-Qara, from Rafah, who served three years, having been arrested on May 17, 2008.
- Munir Anwar Nemir Abed Ar-Rahman, from Gaza City, who served two years, having been arrested on April 4, 2009.
- Munir Ali Omer Al-A'ssar, from central Gaza who served six years, having been arrested on June 12, 2006.
- Ibrahim Jamal Mohammad Al-Majdub from Gaza, who served five years, having been arrested on June 12, 2006.
The two whose release was delayed were identified as:
- Hesham Atallah Saeeed Atallah, from central Gaza, who served six and a half years, having been arrested on December 30, 2004.
- Omer Salem A'tawa Khattab, from central Gaza, who served seven years, having been arrested on July 7, 2004.
Al-Ashqar noted that 689 prisoners from Gaza remain in Israeli jails.
