Hamas releases ordered by court

Palestinian speaker Abdel Aziz Dweik (left) appeared in court

An Israeli military court has ordered the release of a number of detained Hamas officials and MPs.

However, the men will remain behind bars for at least 48 hours pending an appeal by the Israeli military authorities against the court's ruling.

Israel arrested dozens of Hamas members following the capture of a soldier by Palestinian militants in late June.

Hamas, which leads the Palestinian government, is illegal in Israel and regarded as a terrorist organisation.

In one case, an Israeli court charged the speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Abdel Aziz Dweik, with being a member of Hamas.

He was among those the court ordered to be released.

The Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya of Hamas, said he hoped the decision to free the Hamas members would be a first step towards freeing other Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Trials to continue

The military court ordered that 18 Hamas members, including ministers in the current Hamas-led government and MPs, should be freed on bail while their trials continue.

In his ruling, the military judge questioned the timing of the arrests of the politicians, and noted that the men were allowed to run for and serve in office for months before their arrests.

Palestinian officials have said the detentions are illegal and demanded the freedom of the Hamas politicians.

Palestinians say the Hamas officials are being used by Israel as bargaining chips in their efforts to secure the release of the Israeli soldier.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has again urged Israel to release the detained officials.

The latest move comes at a particularly sensitive time in the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians, says the BBC's Jill McGivering in Jerusalem.

After long and difficult negotiations, leaders of Hamas and Fatah have just announced agreement on forming a government of national unity.

There is also widespread speculation about a possible deal between Israel and the Palestinians, our correspondent adds.

Israel wants the captured soldier, Gilad Shalit, released, and while Israeli officials say they will not negotiate with Hamas, many here expect a prisoner exchange deal to secure his release, she says.