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.

The committee’s decision to grant early release came despite warnings from Israel’s Military Advocate General that it would hurt relations between Israel and the UK.