BREAKING NEWS

Hamas's Haniyeh thanks Egypt for role in prisoners deal

Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh on Monday thanked Egypt for its role in helping to broker an agreement between Israel and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails that ended a 27-day hunger strike, official Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram's website reported.
Speaking in Gaza, Haniyeh also congratulated the prisoners who "successfully achieved their demands," and praised the "steadfastness of the prisoners on hunger strike," according to the report.
According to the terms of the agreement, which was achieved with mediation by Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, Palestinian prisoners committed to refrain from dealing with "activities against security" within prison confines. In exchange, they will receive benefits from the Prisons Service, including the end of separation from the general prison population, and family visits.
Yaakov Lappin contributed to this report