RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Ra'fat Nasif, 43, one of Hamas's political leaders, who was released Wednesday after four and a half years in Israeli jails, stated that the Palestinian prisoners are living in difficult conditions as a result of the arbitrary Israeli practices against them especially the policy of isolation, transfers and mass punishment.

Nasif said that the release of prisoners is a natural right and obligation especially since there are more than 11,000 prisoners in Israeli jails, noting that the prisoners support any option to get them released.

The Hamas leader held the Israeli government fully responsible for the suffering of its captive soldier Gilad Shalit and his family as it is responsible for the suffering of thousands of Palestinian prisoners and their families, calling on it to comply with the conditions of the Palestinian resistance regarding the prisoner swap deal.

He also stressed the importance of promoting the Palestinian national unity and healing the internal rift.