Hamas Says Israel Agrees To Prisoner Exchange
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - A top Hamas official said in remarks published Friday that Israel had agreed in theory to conduct a prisoner exchange with the Palestinian terror group, despite an earlier refusal to do so. Hamas-affiliated terrorists are holding Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Corporal Gilad Shalit in the Gaza Strip, and are demanding the release of at least 1,000 Palestinian security prisoners from Israeli jails in return for his freedom. Shalit has been in captivity since June 25, when Palestinians tunneling under the Gaza border attacked his tank, killing two crew members and abducting the young soldier. That action led to a fierce and ongoing Israeli military response. But Hamas media consultant and political bureau member Muhammad Nazal said the fighting may be coming to an end as Israeli and Egyptian negotiators inch closer to hammering out a prisoner swap. Speaking to Lebanon's al-Nahar, the Damascus-based Nazal said that "pursuant to the visit of senior Hamas officials to Cairo, Egyptian sources renewed negotiation efforts that had previously been halted due to the stubbornness of the Israelis, who wanted to secure the soldier's release in exchange for nothing." He said all that remained was to discuss the exact names and numbers of Palestinians to be released, and denied speculation that Hamas and Hezbollah were working together for a joint prisoner e |
