Leaders of Islamic Jihad and Hamas are advocating a campaign of kidnapping to free terrorists jailed in Israel.

Khaled Al-Batsh, senior member of Islamic Jihad, told a crowd in the Gaza Strip they needed to take Israeli prisoners in an attempt to gain release from prison of terrorists connected to their organization.

“I say to all armed factions, the way to free the prisoners is through swaps…an arrest for an arrest and freedom for freedom. This is the way,” Al-Batsh told the crowd according to the Jerusalem Post. 

At least 4,700 Palestinians are jailed in Israel with most prisoners convicted of violent crimes. Palestinian government leaders are attempting to paint all the prisoners as POWs in an attempt to stir up dissension against the Israeli government who rejected the idea the convicts were held on war crimes.

The rally was another indication that Hamas and Islamic Jihad are beginning to have more joint operations in the region.