The Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has expressed hope that 18 imprisoned Hamas lawmakers, including three Cabinet ministers, would soon be freed after an Israeli military court ordered their release.
 “We hope that the ministers, the Palestinian Legislative Council members, and the municipalities' members that were lately imprisoned will be released as a first step towards freeing all our prisoners in the Israeli occupation jails.”
In his decision, the military judge said the politicians should be freed on bail while their trials continue.
The men will remain behind bars for at least two more days pending an appeal.
The Israeli army arrested more than two dozen Hamas lawmakers after militants in Gaza linked to the group attacked a military post in June and captured an Israeli soldier.
Palestinian groups say that raid was in response to several deadly Israeli missile attacks on civilians in Gaza in the preceding two weeks.
The release of further Palestinian prisoners is a key issue for Hamas - but Haniyeh reiterated there would be no direct negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
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