Israel orders release of 21 detained Hamas officials

JERUSALEM, Sep 12 (Reuters) An Israeli military judge today ordered the release of 21 Palestinian Hamas officials detained in a dragnet launched after a soldier was abducted by gunmen in the Gaza Strip, an army spokesman said.

A lawyer for the detainees said the release ordered by Ofer Military Court would be on bail, and that the roster included three Palestinian cabinet ministers, one of them a parliament member, as well as 18 other lawmakers.

The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the terms of the release or why it was ordered but said implementation would be deferred until Thursday so prosecutors could appeal.

''Twenty-one Hamas officials are to be released, but this has been put on hold for 48 hours so the prosecution can file challenges,'' an army spokesman said, adding that a successful appeal would put the release on hold.

Israeli forces took at least 30 Hamas officials into custody after Corporal Gilad Shalit was seized in a June 25 raid.

Israel said the detainees were suspected of offences linked to Hamas's role in spearheading a 6-year-old Palestinian revolt.

But Palestinians accused Israel of rounding up ''bargaining chips'' to force Shalit's release.

A senior aide to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of Hamas, said the court's decision represented ''significant progress'' in securing Shalit's release.

''The military court decision is part of a deal coming together to release Shalit, and in the coming days more will be known,'' Ahmed Youssef told Israel Radio.

A lawyer representing the detainees, Osama al-Saadi, told Reuters their release was conditional on posting a collective bail of 25,000 shekels (5,690 dollars). This raised the prospect of their future prosecution by Israel.

Hamas, an Islamic group whose charter calls for Israel's destruction, defeated the more moderate Fatah in elections in January, prompting an aid embargo by Western donor nations.

In a bid to break the diplomatic deadlock, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah leader, yesterday announced that a coalition government would be formed with Hamas.

''I believe the release of ministers and lawmakers will afford the suitable atmosphere for the announcement of the national unity government after the completion of the consultations,'' said Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman.

Israel and the United States remained sceptical on the planned Palestinian coalition, pending clarification of whether the new administration would recognise the Jewish state and renounce violence, preconditions set for restoring aid.

A Hamas spokesman said the group had no intention of recognising Israel, and Haniyeh said the new government would not negotiate with Israel.

REUTERS PKS RAI2124