Answer expected soon. Shalit
Photo: Reuters
Mahmoud a-Zahar
Photo: Reuters
Hamas reps return to Gaza; response to Shalit deal offer expected soon
Islamist group's consultations in Damascus on latest Israel prisoner swap offer conclude; reps say exiled leaders expressed some reservations
Hamas representatives who held consultations with exiled leaders of the Islamist group in Damascus regarding Israel's latest prisoner exchange offer have returned to Gaza Thursday.
Former Tanzim Leader
Roee Nahmias
London-based al-Hayat newspaper says Americans fear release of senior prisoner will increase Hamas popularity, undermine Abbas
Senior Hamas figure Mahmoud a-Zahar said the group would give its official answer soon, adding that the leadership in Syria had expressed some reservations.
Israel has reportedly agreed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captive soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped into Gaza on June 25, 2006.
Hamas sources have said the Islamist group cannot accept the offer due to Israel's refusal to include a number of so-called "heavy" Palestinian prisoners in the swap deal, along with Jerusalem's demand that some of those freed will be deported to Gaza or abroad.
Other Hamas sources told Ynet that the group has rejected the Israeli offer, but stopped short of saying that the negotiations have failed.
On Tuesday Hamas' official website published the names of four of the "heaviest" prisoners Israel is refusing to release: Former Tanzim leader in the West Bank Marwan Barghouti, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Secretary-General Ahmed Saadat and two senior commanders in Hamas' military wing - Ibrahim Hamed and Abdullah Barghouti.
