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World opinion scores one! Negotiations ongoing for footballer Sarsak's release


Rights groups members, concerned supporters and friends and family now have a glimmer of hope that global campaign of appeals on behalf of imprisoned Palestinian National Football Team player Mahmoud Sarsak may come in time to save his life.

The latest breaking news from various sources – and as it is being reported now by both GazaTV and Radio Gaza - is that the 25 year-old Sarsak will be released sometime between July 10 - 15, 2012.

News from an agency in Gaza called "Palestine Al-Yaum" stated that "Sarsak will be released on July 10.”

Recent medical reports on Sarsak – who has been on a hunger strike now for 91 days, and from the prisoner support group Addameer, have said that the young footballer was in grave condition and “very near death.”

Word came just hours ago from a friend of Sarsak’s and the family, who says the family has heard from Sarsak’s legal counsel on this.

“The facts are still very cloudy in this, but still, we are jubilant! Ecstatic! I’ve just also heard this news from the radio,” said a joyous Malaka Mohammed, who has run a diligent campaign on Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter since his friend was arrested at a checkpoint in July of 2009.

Yael Kahn, who is chairman of Islington Friends of Yibna,and artist support group in the Rafeh Refugee Camp where the Sarsak family lives, has provided this information from a Gaza resident and neighbor of Sarsak’s family in Rafeh, (paraphrased for English translation):

“What I expected (was a) deal by Israelis to release the captive hero Sarsak of Gaza,” said Hatem Taha.

The release went on to state, “Sarsak’s lawyer, and the prisoner have said there (will be an) agreement by which the release of Sarsak by the Israeli occupation on (or near) July 13 - but only if Sarsak quit his hunger strike.more

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