An Israeli military court on Wednesday ordered the release of Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Naser al-Shaer, a top Hamas official, after more than a month in detention. "The court admitted there was not enough evidence to keep him in jail," defense lawyer, Osama al-Saadi, told Haaretz. "There was no basis for his arrest. This is natural," he said.
Al-Shaer was on his way back to his home in the West Bank city of Nablus, al-Saadi said.
But the court temporarily banned him from going to his government office in the city of Ramallah, his lawyer added.
Israeli forces abducted al-Shaer at his house on August 19. He had not been at home in late June when troops kidnapped dozens of Hamas lawmakers and a number of cabinet ministers. Thirty-two Hamas legislators are still in Israeli custody.
The military prosecution has charged 21 Hamas members with belonging to a "terrorist group" and posing a security threat against Israel.
