All five French citizens that were kidnapped in the southern Gaza Strip city of Kahn Younis were released Friday night after being held up by militants for several hours, Palestinian security sources said.

The sources said that the two women were first released and then the three men were also released later, ending four hours of the kidnapping.

Witnesses said the two women were released and after an hour and a half the three other men were released and were seen coming out from the building of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the city.

The building includes a medical clinic, ambulance center and a motel, the sources said, adding that there were no negotiations with the kidnappers.

The kidnapers belonged to the Brigades of Ahmed Abu el Rish, one of the armed wings of Fatah movement active in the southern area of the Gaza Strip, mainly in Khan Younis.

They were demanding houses for the Palestinian families that lost their houses after the Israeli army razed and destroyed their houses in Khan Younis.

A top security official, who asked not to be identified, said that after negotiating the kidnappers, an agreement was reached to release two women and then to release the other three.

Palestinian security sources reported Friday that unknown masked Palestinian militants kidnapped on Friday night five Frenchcitizens in the southern Gaza Strip city of Kahn Younis.

The sources said that the five French citizens were sitting at a coffee shop near the main stadium in the city, when a group of masked militants forced them to get into their cars and disappeared from the area.

Palestinian residents said that the French citizens are technicians who help build up the new electric net for the city.

Palestinian witnesses said that the kidnappers took the five French people to the building of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Khan Younis city.

Source: Xinhua