RAMALLAH: Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas started on Friday the release of dozens of Hamas prisoners, a Palestinian security officer said. Adnan Al-Damiri, the spokesman of the Palestinian Authority security forces, told Arab News the forces early on Friday released 15 Hamas members in the West Bank city of Qalqilyah. The 15 released prisoners were part of 250 prisoners Abbas ordered freed in honor of Eid, which probably begins on Sunday (contingent on the sighting of the new moon crescent). He added that the release of the prisoners will be completed by Saturday and will involve detainees held at security headquarters in several West Bank cities.
