Egyptian officials: Israeli flexibility on prisoner swap will pressure Hamas
Hamas spokesman says list of prisoners it demands Israel release as part of deal for Shalit final, but Egyptian, Palestinian officials say should Israel agree to free more prisoners 'with blood on their hands' Hamas may consider shortening list
A spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said Saturday that the list of Palestinian prisoners the Islamist group demands Israel release in exchange for captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was final, adding that it included over 1,000 prisoners.
"We've decided not to discuss the Shalit issue and do not intend to consider any list formulated by the occupation regime (Israel)," Abu Obeida was quoted as saying by the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, "Israel must comply with the list we relayed to it."
Abu Obeida is not associated with any Hamas officials involved in the Egyptian-mediated negotiations on a possible prisoner exchange deal.
However, Palestinian and Egyptian officials told Ynet that Hamas would consider softening its stance should Israel relax the criteria for the release of Palestinian prisoners and agree to release prisoners "with blood on their hands" who were detained prior to the eruption of the second intifada in 2000 or those who were detained after 2000 but do not pose a threat due to their medical condition.
Shalit was captured during in a cross border raid on an IDF base bear Gaza on June 25, 2006.
A ministerial committee headed by Vice Premier Haim Ramon is expected to convene Sunday to discuss easing the criteria for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has yet to comment on the committee's work, but it is estimated that a change in Israel's position would prompt Egypt to pressure the Islamist group into softening its stance as well.
The ministerial committee is expected to present cabinet with a list of additional Palestinian prisoners it considers candidates for release in a future prisoner swap. Hamas said its list, which includes Palestinian prisoners sentenced to lengthy jail terms who have no chance of being released other than in the framework of an exchange deal with Israel, was final.
'10,000 more prisoners held in Israel'
Hamas is insisting that Israel release 350 Palestinians categorized as "heavy prisoners", which include mainly Hamas operatives who masterminded suicide terror attacks against Israeli targets.
The most prominent of these is Abdullah Barghouti, a Hamas leader in the West Bank who is serving out 67 consecutive life terms. Barghouti pleaded guilty to building the bombs that murdered 66 people and wounded more than 500 in a series of suicide bombings.
Hamas is also demanding the release of Hassan Salama, a Hamas leader who in the mid-90's led a wave of suicide bombings. Salama was convicted of murdering 67 Israeli citizens and was sentenced to several dozen consecutive life terms.
The list also includes former Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, seen as a potential successor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Barghouti is serving five consecutive life terms for his involvement in the murders of four Israelis and a Greek monk.
The Islamist group is also demanding that Israel free Ahmed Saadat, who headed the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a small PLO faction. In 2001, gunmen from Saadat's faction assassinated an Israeli Cabinet minister, Rehavam Zeevi, in a Jerusalem hotel.
Israel has so far agreed to release only 71 prisoners from Hamas' list of "heavy prisoners".
A Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations said, "The Egyptians will tell Hamas that it wouldn't be prudent on its part to insist that Israel free the additional 200 prisoners, as some 10,000 more are being held in Israel".
It is estimated that if forced to remove the "heavy prisoners" from its list, Hamas would increase the number of prisoners it demands Israel release, which currently stands at 1,300 to 1,400.
The negotiations between Egypt and Hamas on the reopening of the Rafah crossing are expected to gain momentum during the upcoming holy Muslim month of Ramadan; Egypt continues to link the issue of the crossing's reopening to a possible deal for Shalit's return.
Meanwhile, Egypt opened the Rafah crossing on Saturday for two days, allowing thousands of Egyptian citizens stuck in Gaza to return home. They are also allowing hundreds of Palestinians needing medical treatment to enter Egypt.
Palestinian officials said the act was an apparent goodwill gesture ahead of Ramadan.
Roee Nahmias contributed to the report
