JERUSALEM, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- No sooner had Israel turned over 550 Palestinian prisoners to complete the deal for the release of Gilad Shilat than Hamas threatened more soldier abductions.
The release of the 550 detainees -- including six women -- Sunday was the second phase of the agreement that resulted in 1,027 Palestinians being freed by Israel in return for the one Israeli soldier, who had been held for five years.
"This achievement will not be the end of the story ...," Abu Ovadia, spokesman for the military arm of Hamas, said in a statement delivered at a news conference in Gaza. "We will continue to work for the prisoners at whatever cost."
Israeli defense officials said none of the inmates freed Sunday was a member of Hamas and none had "blood on his hands," The Jerusalem Post reported.
