Hamas: Second part of Schalit swap within 20 days

Senior Hamas official tells Gaza newspaper Israel will release 550 Palestinian prisoners within 20 days.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Gilad Schalit and Netanyahu (photo credit: GPO)
Gilad Schalit and Netanyahu
(photo credit: GPO)
The second stage of the Gilad Schalit prisoner exchange deal, in which Israel is expected to release 550 Palestinian prisoners, will occur within 20 days, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Gaza-based news agency Palestine Today on Wednesday.
The first stage of the exchange deal was carried out on October 18, 2011, when Israel released 477 Palestinian prisoners and Hamas released Schalit.
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Unlike the first batch of prisoners, which included many names specifically agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, the second 550 prisoners to be released will be entirely of Israel's choosing.
Details of who will be released in the second wave have yet to be released.