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Egypt frees alleged Israeli spy Grapel in swap deal | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Twenty-five Egyptians freed by Israel have crossed the border into their home country, as part of deal with Cairo in return for the release of Ilan Grapel. | |
Mr Grapel, an Israeli-American, boarded a flight to Tel Aviv and is expected to arrive later on Thursday. | |
The 27-year-old has been held by Egypt since June after being accused of spying for Israel. | |
Israel and his family deny the claims against Mr Grapel, saying he was working for a charity in Cairo. | |
Mr Grapel's relatives say he made no attempt to disguise the fact that he had served in the Israeli army during its war in Lebanon in 2006. | |
There has also been widespread scepticism in Egypt that Mr Grapel really was an Israeli spy. | There has also been widespread scepticism in Egypt that Mr Grapel really was an Israeli spy. |
He was arrested on 12 June and accused of trying to stir up sectarian strife in Cairo on behalf of the Israeli spy agency Mossad. | He was arrested on 12 June and accused of trying to stir up sectarian strife in Cairo on behalf of the Israeli spy agency Mossad. |
Egyptian state television showed some of the Egyptians bowing down in prayer as they arrived on Egyptian soil, Reuters reports. | |
The Egyptians had been moved to the Taba border crossing ahead of the swap. | |
The Egyptian prisoners, which include three children, are believed to be mostly smugglers, asylum seekers and people looking for work. | |
Israel stressed in its statement that none of the Egyptians had been involved in security-related crimes. | Israel stressed in its statement that none of the Egyptians had been involved in security-related crimes. |
Israel's security cabinet approved the exchange on Tuesday. On Wednesday the Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a victims' rights group against the swap, saying it was a political decision outside the court's jurisdiction. | Israel's security cabinet approved the exchange on Tuesday. On Wednesday the Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a victims' rights group against the swap, saying it was a political decision outside the court's jurisdiction. |
A similar appeal against the release of Sgt Gilad Shalit was also rejected. | A similar appeal against the release of Sgt Gilad Shalit was also rejected. |
Last week Israel released the first batch of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli soldier. | Last week Israel released the first batch of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli soldier. |
He had been held by the militant group, Hamas, which controls Gaza, since 2006. | He had been held by the militant group, Hamas, which controls Gaza, since 2006. |
It appears the deal to release Mr Grapel was negotiated around the same time as the Shalit exchange, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem. | It appears the deal to release Mr Grapel was negotiated around the same time as the Shalit exchange, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem. |
It shows that Egypt is still capable of dealing with Israel on business-like terms and reminds regional rivals such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia that Cairo's influence is real, despite the change of government, our correspondent says. | It shows that Egypt is still capable of dealing with Israel on business-like terms and reminds regional rivals such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia that Cairo's influence is real, despite the change of government, our correspondent says. |