Hamas'
deputy politburo chief Moussa Abu Marzouk received a videotape showing kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit during his recent secret visit
to the Gaza Strip, Kuwaiti newspaper al-Jarida reported Monday, quoting sources close to the Palestinian movement.
Shalit is being held captive by Hamas' military wing. The same newspaper reported about a week ago that Abu Marzouk had also been handed a letter written by the kidnapped soldier.
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It was also reported that Hamas had no plans to give out the tape, which proves Shalit is in good health, "unless real and serious progress is made and concessions are made by Israel, and it goes back on its insistence in terms of the prisoner exchange deal."
The sources also told the paper that "Hamas is interested in using the tape as a strong bargaining chip at the end of the process, in order to prove its seriousness in wanting to end the matter."
According to the sources, Abu Mrazouk informed senior Egyptian officials of the videotape, but did not turn it over to them.
Meanwhile, the kidnapped soldier's parents, Aviva and Noam Shalit, are preparing for their second day in the protest tent
set up outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem.
Noam Shalit said upon arriving at the tent, "We will sit outside Olmert's house so that he sees us when he wakes up in the morning."
Bereaved parents protested
near the tent, calling on the government not to release Palestinian murderers in exchange for Shalit.
Ynet learned on Sunday that Israeli security officials have been interviewing
'heavyweight' Palestinian prisoners in what the Palestinian Authority considers a sign of headway in the negotiations on a possible prisoner swap that would see Shalit released.
The prisoners who are being interviewed were all sentenced to multiple life sentences and are considered to have "blood on their hands". According to the prisoners' families and the lawyers representing them, Israeli officials have recently begun holding a series of meetings with the prisoners.
Also on Sunday, Egyptian sources reported that Israel's representative in the prisoner exchange negotiations, Ofer Dekel, arrived in Cairo for a lightning visit.
Gilad Shalit was kidnapped
into the Gaza Strip 988 days ago.
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