Senior Hamas commander Ayman Nofal is received by his supported upon his
arrival to the Gaza Strip after liberation from an Egyptian jail.
arrival to the Gaza Strip after liberation from an Egyptian jail.
A senior Hamas leader has returned to the Gaza Strip after liberation from an Egyptian prison, amid Cairo's worst unrest since President Hosni Mubarak took power three decades ago.
Sun Feb 6, 2011 - Ayman Nofal who had been in an Egyptian jail for the past three years, managed to escape Abu Zaabal prison last week and made his way into the strip through the underground tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, Hamas said in a statement on Sunday.
Egypt shut its crossing with the Gaza Strip last week after anti-government protests spread to the border area.
Israel with the help of Egypt has imposed a tight embargo on the Gaza Strip in an attempt to weaken Hamas through targeting Gaza's 1.5 million people.
Hamas said Nofal was arrested in 2008 over accusations of involvement in bomb attacks in the country.
He was one of several other prisoners who have escaped when thousands broke out of prisons across Egypt amid protests which sparked against Mubarak's 30 year rule.
SB/MMA - more reports/news
