Early release for Tom Hurndall killer

A former Israeli soldier imprisoned for killing a British activist in the Gaza Strip in 2003 is to be released before his sentence is up.

Taysir-al-Heib was sentenced to eight years for the "unlawful killing" of Tom Hurndall, a 22-year-old volunteer for the International Solidarity Movement.

But an army committee said he was no longer a threat and has agreed to release him 18 months before his sentence expires. His lawyer said Mr al-Heib had changed and added that he planned to get married.

Mr al-Heib was jailed in 2005 for manslaughter, obstruction of justice and giving false testimony. He has appealed unsuccessfully for his sentence to be commuted three times before.