Israel will free 1,000 Palestinian men and 27 women from its prisons in exchange for its soldier, Gilad Shalit, held captive in Gaza for the past five years, Hamas said Tuesday, DPA reported.
Khaled Mashaal, the Syria-based leader of the radical Islamist movement ruling Gaza, gave details of the long-awaited prisoners' exchange deal in a news conference in Damascus.
He said 450 male militants and 27 women - which is the total number of female militants Israel is currently holding - would be freed within a week.
Another 550 male militants would then be freed in another two months. The first stage included 315 prisoners who were serving long or life sentences, he said.
Abu Obeida, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, earlier said in Gaza that a number of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and Arab citizens of Israel were also included.
...