The Palestinian Authority, hoping that the attention of the US is elsewhere, has quietly released all four suspects in the October terror attack that killed three Americans in Gaza: PA releases suspects of US-convoy attack. (Hat tip: Morgan.)

The Palestinian Authority security services released on Sunday four men suspected of being involved in an October 2003 terror attack which killed three US Embassy security guards, Palestinians reported.

The four had been arrested by Palestinian security forces several weeks ago and charged with manslaughter for planting bombs aimed at IDF tanks that might also have hit the convoy.

However, US diplomats and even Palestinian security sources questioned whether the men were the real culprits or convenient scapegoats. There had been some expectation that their arrest would deflect US pressure on Palestinian investigators.

The four were members of the Palestinian Resistance Committee in Gaza, an umbrella group comprised of all the Palestinian opposition groups.

Some Palestinian officials said the real perpetrators of the October attack could be linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s own Fatah organization, or even to the security forces.

Three Americans were killed in the attack and a fourth was moderately wounded as the embassy convoy was traveling near Beit Hanun in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians security sources said the four arrested men appeared before a Palestinian judge Sunday who said there was not enough evidence to hold them and ordered them freed.

Soon after, dozens of relatives, friends and some militants gathered outside the prison to await their release. “I am so excited. I can’t wait to see him coming out,” said Safia Abu Laden, mother of one of the prisoners. “I give thanks to God that he answered my prayers to keep him safe and free him for his children.”

Let’s give them their own state! I’m sure they’ll instantly begin acting like civilized people as soon as they have a state.

(Do I need to include the sarcasm tag?)