Gag order lifted years after undercover Hamas arrest

Israeli censors have finally lifted prohibition on publishing the arrest by undercover forces of a Hamas member allegedly involved in the capture of a soldier. An undercover Israeli force seized Mahawash al-Qadi in 2007 on suspicion of "indirect involvement" in the capture of Gilad Shalit, who was exchanged in October for several hundred Palestinian prisoners. His arrest was placed under gag order by an Israeli court, which finally lifted it Tuesday following years of requests from the Tel Aviv-based daily Haaretz, the newspaper says. Haaretz says the arrest on Sept. 7, 2007 inspired Hamas to move Shalit to an alternative location, perhaps fearing al-Qadi would reveal the place he was held after a 2006 cross-border raid. He was released on Oct. 18 as part of the prisoner swap mediated by Egypt. According to Israeli authorities, al-Qadi purchased the plot of land that would cover a tunnel used by Hamas operatives and others to sneak into Israel and capture Shalit. Al-Qadi pled guilty. Al-Qadi's arrest was reported in local media right away, and was no secret for Palestinians. But the courts in Israel refused to allow publication in their media until Tuesday, after requests from Haaretz.