JERUSALEM, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Knesset, Israel's parliament, on Wednesday gave greenlight to bills that will lead to worse conditions for Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails, despite warnings from the Islamic movement to avenge aggravated treatment to its men.
The Knesset approved the two bills in preliminary reading, in a move to push Hamas to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who were captured and taken hostage in Gaza by militants in 2006, reported local news service Ynet.
Israeli Ministerial Committee on Legislation on Sunday passed the so called "Shalit law" and submitted it to the legislature.
According to the bills, prisoners in Israeli jails who were convicted for joining terrorist organizations will be barred from meeting family and receiving newspapers.
Hamas, which is viewed by Israel as a terror group, warned on Tuesday that tightening its members' imprisonment conditions would have a "negative impact" on the captive soldier.
The bills, which were put forward by Likud lawmakers, has been postponed since last summer by Israeli government out of security concerns. Earlier May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office withdrew its objection.
Hamas wanted Israel to free up to 1,000 Arab and Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit. Egypt and Germany had mediated between the two sides to broker a prisoner swap, but with no signs of progress.
