Hizbullah congratulates Hamas over prisoner release deal

Agencies

BEIRUT, Oct 14: Lebanese resistance group and political party Hizbullah congratulated Hamas on Thursday on signing the prisoner swap deal which aim to exchange captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners. Hizbullah leader Hasan Nasrallah The group said in a statement that the agreement is "a massive victory over the Zionist entity, which proves that the path of resistance is effective." "Hizbullah is happy and proud of the great victory, which was achieved through Palestinian resistance," the statement read. "...Hizbullah congratulates the Hamas leadership, the resistance and the other Palestinian movements for the achievement." The organization lauded the impending release of all of the female Palestinian inmates, and expressed hope that "the path of resistance" will make way for the release of the remaining prisoners held by Israel. Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood praised the measure as well. The opposition movement's leader, Hammam Said, called Hamas head Khaled Mashaal on Thursday "to congratulate him for this achievement." "This is a great victory for the Arab and Muslim nations," Hammam said in a statement. The Brotherhood called for a demonstration to be staged on Thursday "to celebrate this event" and to "express gratitude to the heroes of the Palestinian resistance."