Mahmoud al-Zahar.' We won't give up'
Photo: AP
Hamas' Zahar: Our demands won't change
Relatives of Palestinian prisoners stage protest outside Hamas strongman's house in Gaza, call on group's leaders not to cave in to international pressure ahead of prisoner exchange deal. 'We promise to continue this way, even if our blood is shed,' Zahar tells them
Hamas
strongman Mahmoud al-Zahar said Sunday that the Palestinian group's demands for a prisoner exchange deal with Israel would not change. "We promise to continue this way even if our blood is shed, in order to release the prisoners from jail," he told protestors who gathered outside his home in Gaza.
Parents of Palestinian prisoners staged a rally outside the Gaza house, calling on the Hamas leadership not to cave in to international pressure and pressure exerted by Israel in a bid to finalize a prisoner exchange deal which would secure the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
The rally was held in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's clarification that "I agreed to Gilad Shalit's release in exchange for 1,000 terrorists, but I won't agree to their return to Judea and Samaria, nor to the release of arch-terrorists."
Zahar added, "We are responsible for serving the citizen and our people, led by the prisoners and their families, and we promise to do all we can for the hero prisoners to return to their homes and families."
The Hamas leader thanked the people involved in mediating the deal, but implied that the organization would not agree to the deportation of some of the prisoners, as demanded by Israel.
"We have no plans to give up on our prisoners' freedom. We are close to reaching our goals of releasing the prisoners and having all the refugees return to their homes."
He concluded by turning to the prisoners and saying, "We won't give up on you, and no matter how long it takes, we won't give up before we see you free."
Gilad Shalit was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip 1,470 days ago.
