A Hamas legislator in the West Bank says Israel has released nine Hamas lawmakers from Israeli prisons.
The legislator, Mahmoud Ramahi, says the men had all completed 40-month prison terms and their release Sept. 2 did not appear to be a gesture from Israel. Israeli officials had no comment.
Israel rounded up more than 30 Hamas lawmakers in 2006 after Hamas militants captured an Israeli soldier, apparently as bargaining chips in efforts to free the soldier. He is still being held in Gaza.
Ramahi says 23 of Hamas’ 74 elected lawmakers remain in Israeli prisons.
— ap