Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered his security services in the West Bank to free a number of Hamas detainees from prisons "within the next few days." According to al Jazeera TV, Fatah Palestinian Legislative Council bloc leader Azzam Al-Ahmad stated that the orders were for Hamas members detained for security reasons.
According to him, this move is aimed at laying groundwork for the success of the Palestinian national dialogue brokered by Egypt, which is expected to be held on 7 July.
Hamas and Fatah have recently declared that they would exchange lists of political prisoners following meetings in Ramallah and Gaza to clear the air before reconciliation talks in Egypt.
