Hamas hosts mass rally for Palestinian prisoners

Hamas hosted a mass march in the Gaza Strip Thursday to mark the anniversary of a prisoner exchange which saw Israel release more than 1,000 Palestinians in exchange for the freedom of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit."The release of the detainees is our top priority, and the resistance will always work to achieve this goal," said the head of Hamas's armed wing Abu Obaida, according to Palestinian news agency Ma'an. "This swap deal will not be the last. We will always act in order to secure the release of all detainees."As part of the prisoner exchange, Israel released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners responsible for the death or injury of hundreds of Israeli civilians. Tawfiq Abu Naim, who chairs a group representing released Palestinian prisoners, told Ma'an that Palestinians called on Hamas and other terror groups to capture more Israeli soldiers and secure the release of more Palestinian prisoners.According to Abu Naim, all Palestinians supported the capture of Schalit.Hamas is set to release a documentary depicting how Schalit was captured. The video will include scenes of Schalit's detention, as well as tactics employed by Hamas in securing his capture.In an interview with Channel 10 published Wednesday, Schalit described his more than five years in captivity, detailing everything from his sleeping patterns to his feelings upon release. "I was scared people would forget me," Schalit said.At the end of the broadcast, Schalit said he would send his children to the IDF. "In the end the State saved me from that place. It fulfilled its part in the prisoner exchange. It paid the price. I will certainly send my kids to the army," he said.