A statement from the Israeli prime minister's office says Egypt has agreed to release a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen from Queens who has been held since June on spy suspicions.
The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Monday that Israel will release 25 Egyptian prisoners in exchange. There was no immediate comment from Egypt.
Ilan Grapel was arrested in Cairo on June 12 and has been held without charge since.
Grapel, who is 27, was suspected by Egyptian officials of spying for Israel during the height of Egypt's uprising earlier this year.
Israel and his relatives in the U.S. deny Grapel was a spy, saying he worked for a Cairo legal aid project.
Irene Grapel told NBC New York last week that her son "always wanted to do good for the world."
"He learned Arabic at Johns Hopkins. He went to Egypt to help in the re-settlement of people from Arab countries who were displaced. Ilan is a young man who wanted to see all sides of every issue. “
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