An IDF court on Wednesday ordered the release of Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Shaer, the highest ranking Hamas official rounded up during Israel's crackdown against the militant group, his lawyer said.
Nasser Shaer, left, escorted by a Palestinian police officer, visits a hospital in Ramallah in this Aug. 7, 2006 file photo.
Photo: AP [file]
Shaer was headed back to his home in the West Bank city of Nablus, said the lawyer, Osama al-Saadi.
Court rules against Hamas lawmakers
Shaer was arrested on Aug. 19 but never charged, Saadi said. "There was no basis for his arrest. This is natural," he said.
Israel rounded up dozens of Hamas political leaders after Hamas operatives kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit on June 25. A total of 30 lawmakers and four Cabinet ministers remain in custody.
Shaer managed to evade arrest for several weeks before IDF troops burst into a house where he was hiding in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Under Wednesday's court order, Shaer must stay out of Ramallah, home of the Palestinian government, for two weeks.
The army had no immediate comment.
