Prisoner release

The woman came forward earlier in December, revealing the sexual assault she experienced at the hands of Fatah prisoner Muhammad Atallah, allegedly with the help and knowledge of prison guards.

Danny Fenster, a 37-year-old Jewish journalist from Huntington Woods, had been held since May 24 in a Myanmar prison by the country’s military junta.

The rare gathering of the Hamas leadership in Cairo has led many Palestinians to believe that a deal is about to be announced.

The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee also approved longer sentencing minimums for illegal weapons crimes

United Nations and Egyptian mediators have reportedly told Hamas that the issue of rebuilding the Gaza Strip should be linked to a prisoner exchange agreement with Israel.

Abu Jaber, who was among 22 political prisoners held in Israeli jails, headed to his parents' home in the teeming Baqaa Palestinian refugee camp near the Jordanian capital Amman, witnesses said.

Hamas is using the issue of Israeli captives to try to cover up for its losses in its last escalation with Israel, the government’s chief negotiator for the release of hostages Yaron Blum said.

The Hamas leader said that "in the coming days we will be witnessing a dialogue in Cairo with the aim of reaching agreements on the issues at hand."

Avera Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli mentally ill black boy, has been held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for six years.

It would appear rumors about a rapid return to a deal and US appeasement of Iran’s regime may not be on the cards as quickly as some have predicted.