An Egyptian official in Gaza reported that the Egyptian military attache, Hussam al-Muslim, kidnapped earlier this week by Palestinian armed men in Gaza, was released unharmed on Saturday.In a statement issued by a previously unknown militant group, calling itself Al Ahrar Brigades (which means "the liberated" in Arabic), claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, demanding the release of all Palestinians held in Egyptian prisons.

"We are releasing him (Musli) today to stress that we are seekers of right and freedom, and we have no desire to harm any of our Egyptian brothers," according to a statement by the group said it would continue to press its demands for a "speedy release of all Palestinian prisoners in Egyptian jails and we reserve our right to use all means to get them freed."

Gaza has seen several kidnappings in the last few months, but Musli was the first Arabic diplomat to be seized.