Nablus, West Bank – Israel on Wednesday released the Palestinian deputy prime minister, the highest-ranking of more than 30 officials in the Hamas- led government jailed as part of a crackdown on the Islamic militant group.
The detention of much of the Hamas-led government has been a major sore point in rapidly deteriorating relations between Israel and the Palestinians since Hamas took power.
Nasser Shaer, who was held without charge for more than a month, was ordered freed by an Israeli court, which banned him from going to his government office in the West Bank city of Ramallah for two weeks.
Shaer said Wednesday that he was not mistreated in jail but added: “There is nothing dearer than being free. They came and took me from my house in front of my children, wife and family. They had no reason to do it.”
Israel and the West, labeling the violent Islamic movement a terror group, have cut off funding to the Palestinian government, plunging the Palestinian areas into a deep financial crisis.
Violence flared June 25 when Hamas-linked militants attacked an Israeli army base near Gaza, killing two soldiers, capturing a third and triggering a large-scale Israeli offensive in the coastal strip.
Israel also rounded up dozens of West Bank officials from the Hamas-led government.
Though Israel said they were suspected of involvement in terrorism, it was widely assumed they were meant to be traded for the soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit. But no progress has been reported in mediation efforts.
Shaer managed to evade detention for more than a month but was caught Aug. 19.
After Israeli soldiers dropped him off at a checkpoint Wednesday, he hitched a ride home to Nablus, where he was greeted by dozens of supporters who chanted, “God is great,” and held a party in his honor at a local restaurant.
Thirty lawmakers and four Cabinet ministers remain in Israeli custody, charged with belonging to an illegal group. On Monday, a military court in the West Bank declined to release 21 of the detainees on bail. A hearing for 13 others is scheduled for Oct. 5.
Shaer said he refused to talk politics in prison and denied he is a Hamas member.
