Israel to free second group of Palestinian prisoners - 21 to West Bank and 5 to Gaza

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JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel on Tuesday was preparing to release 26 long-serving Palestinian prisoners, the second batch of 104 inmates who are to be freed in line with commitments to US-brokered peace talks.

The release, which is due to take place late on Tuesday night, will see 21 prisoners returned to their homes in the West Bank and the remaining five returning home to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

All were convicted for killing Israelis, with most of the attacks occurring before the 1993 Oslo Accords, which granted the Palestinian Authority limited self-rule, but failed to bring about an independent state.

Of the 26, all but two prisoners were serving life sentences. more

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