Haniyeh addresses rally of tens of thousands as he welcomes home resistance fighters

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian leader in Gaza praised the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as a "historic moment," in an address late Tuesday to thousands of supporters.

Ismail Haniyeh said the resistance refused to back down on two demands - to include leaders of all factions, and to include Palestinians from "the whole of Palestine," not just the West Bank and Gaza.

The deal included Christians, women and 320 detainees with life terms, he said.

"We kiss the hands and foreheads of the Palestinian resistance" for their heroic role, he said, adding that the Islamic world and free people everywhere shared in the joy Palestinians were feeling.

Haniyeh thanked Egypt for its role and said more detainees "will be released soon."

He spoke to a densely-packed sprawl of low-rise concrete on the Mediterranean coast in sight of Israel, as tens of thousands rallied before a stage decorated by a mural bearing portraits of top militants who were not released.

"We will not forget you," said the slogan. more

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