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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israel frees Hamas deputy premier | Israel frees Hamas deputy premier |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An Israeli military court has released the Palestinian deputy prime minister, six weeks after detaining him in a crackdown on the Hamas movement. | An Israeli military court has released the Palestinian deputy prime minister, six weeks after detaining him in a crackdown on the Hamas movement. |
| Nasser al-Shaer is the most senior politician to be freed from dozens arrested after Hamas militants captured an Israeli soldier near Gaza in June. | Nasser al-Shaer is the most senior politician to be freed from dozens arrested after Hamas militants captured an Israeli soldier near Gaza in June. |
| "There was no basis for his arrest. This is natural," his lawyer said. | "There was no basis for his arrest. This is natural," his lawyer said. |
| About 30 Hamas figures remain in Israeli custody, some facing charges of membership of a terrorist organisation. | About 30 Hamas figures remain in Israeli custody, some facing charges of membership of a terrorist organisation. |
| Mr Shaer managed to evade arrest for several weeks during the summer after Israeli troops seized dozens of Hamas officials following the capture of Cpl Gilad Shalit in June. | Mr Shaer managed to evade arrest for several weeks during the summer after Israeli troops seized dozens of Hamas officials following the capture of Cpl Gilad Shalit in June. |
| Israeli troops burst into a house in the West Bank city of Ramallah where he was hiding on 19 August. | Israeli troops burst into a house in the West Bank city of Ramallah where he was hiding on 19 August. |
| Separately on Wednesday, an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza killed a 14-year-old Palestinian girl and injured several other civilians, Palestinian medics said. | Separately on Wednesday, an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza killed a 14-year-old Palestinian girl and injured several other civilians, Palestinian medics said. |
| The circumstances of the death are not clear, but Israel said it had fired at an arms smuggling tunnel. | The circumstances of the death are not clear, but Israel said it had fired at an arms smuggling tunnel. |
| 'Illegal arrest' | 'Illegal arrest' |
| The court order under which Mr Shaer was released reportedly says he must stay out of Ramallah, where the Palestinian government is situated, for two weeks. | The court order under which Mr Shaer was released reportedly says he must stay out of Ramallah, where the Palestinian government is situated, for two weeks. |
| On Monday, a military court refused to release 21 other detained Hamas officials on bail before legal proceedings against them had been concluded. | On Monday, a military court refused to release 21 other detained Hamas officials on bail before legal proceedings against them had been concluded. |
| Mr Shaer's wife, who had campaigned for his release, confirmed to the BBC that her husband had been set free and was travelling home to Nablus in the northern West Bank. | Mr Shaer's wife, who had campaigned for his release, confirmed to the BBC that her husband had been set free and was travelling home to Nablus in the northern West Bank. |
| As well as being deputy prime minister, Mr Shaer served as minister of education and training in the Hamas-led government which was elected by a landslide in March. | As well as being deputy prime minister, Mr Shaer served as minister of education and training in the Hamas-led government which was elected by a landslide in March. |
| Government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said Mr Shaer's detention had been "political and illegal", and called charges against his colleagues "fabricated". | Government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said Mr Shaer's detention had been "political and illegal", and called charges against his colleagues "fabricated". |
| The movement does not recognise Israel's right to exist, which prompted western powers to stop funding to the Palestinian Authority, adding to a serious humanitarian crisis in areas it controls. |