Hamas vows 'force' to free prisoners in Israeli jails

A senior Hamas leader on Thursday called for the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers and settlers in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails.

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior leader of the militant group, told a rally marking the annual Palestinian Prisoners' Day that Hamas will free Palestinian prisoners by "force."

"We inform the Zionist enemy that it is responsible for our children's lives. Therefore, our men and women are seriously considering kidnapping your soldiers and settlers everywhere, which is our right in order to free our prisoners," he said.

Dozens of Palestinians joined a rally in Gaza city, waving Palestinian flags and carrying prisoners' pictures.

Official figures show that there are 6,500 Palestinians held in in Israeli jails and prisons, including 30 who have been imprisoned for more than 25 years.

In 2006, Hamas captured Israeli army corporal Gilad Shalit, and in 2011 Egypt brokered a prisoners' swap deal, freeing 1,000 prisoners for Shalit's release.

The Palestinians have been marking Prisoners's Day, which falls on April 17, since 1974.

This year, however, Palestine is marking the day for the first time as a member of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. It joined on April 1.

"The Palestinian prisoners' issue must be one of the first cases submitted to the international court," al-Hayya said. "We need to sue the occupation criminal leaders for crimes committed against us."
Source: XINHUA