GAZA CITY — The Islamist Hamas movement ruling the Gaza Strip released 150 prisoners on Thursday, including what it calls security detainees, in honour of the Muslim feast Eid al-Adha.
Those released include at least 25 "security detainees" and 77 people held on criminal charges, prison official Nasser Suleiman told reporters.
He added that 53 of the detainees were near the end of their sentence.
Outside the prison, the released men were embraced by joyful relatives and led home to celebrate Eid Al-Adha (The Feast of the Sacrifice), in which Muslims traditionally slaughter animals and share the meat with the poor.
"I was detained in June by the (Hamas-run) police during an arrest campaign against Fatah members," said Tariq Muhaisan, one of the detainees, referring to the secular party of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
"I was arrested for political reasons," he added.
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