Hamas official says Israel agreed to criteria for Shalit deal
Hamas official Osama al-Mazini said in an interview to the organization's website before the Egyptian security envoy left the Gaza Strip that real progress was made in negotiations to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
"The Egyptians had reached an extremely advanced stage and all that was left was the execution of the deal, the steps and criteria of which the occupation (Israel) agreed. It included 1,400 prisoners of all factions, including 400 women and children of Arab countries and Israeli-Arabs," al Mazini said. (Roee Nahmias)
