Palestinian factions free hostages
Rival Palestinian factions swapped hostages under a cease-fire deal.
The internal Palestinian violence in the Gaza Strip had been the fiercest since the Islamic militant group Hamas, which rejects peace talks with Israel, trounced the more moderate Fatah faction in elections last year, triggering a Western aid embargo.
A total of 20 Hamas and 18 Fatah hostages were freed over a period of several hours, said Samih Madhoun, a senior leader of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement.
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