Hamas-linked group offers cash for Israeli capture

A Gaza charity headed by the interior minister of the terrorist Hamas group on Wednesday offered $1.4 million to any Arab citizen of Israel who abducts a soldier.

Palestinians have frequently called on Israeli Arabs to abduct Israeli soldiers, but this is the first time that money has been offered.

The Waad group from Gaza offered the bounty for Israeli soldiers in an e-mail sent to Palestinian media. The organization, which supports Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, is headed by Hamas' Interior Minister Fathi Hamad. The minister did not return messages seeking comment.

Waad's director, Usama Kahlout, said the bounty was in response to an Israeli group's offer to pay Gaza residents for information on the whereabouts of Sgt. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured more than three years ago by Hamas-allied terrorists.

The Born to Freedom Foundation offered $10 million for information pertaining to Israeli soldiers missing in action or held captive. Activists routinely call phone numbers in Gaza as well as in Lebanon looking for leads on missing Israeli soldiers. Israeli intelligence is also believed to call Gazans in search of information.

German mediators are currently overseeing negotiations between bitter rivals Israel and Hamas to exchange Shalit for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Kouchner (L) with Gilad Shalit's father Noam (Photo: AP)

Israel is holding some 7,500 Palestinian prisoners. Shalit is the only Israeli held by Hamas, while four Israelis who disappeared in Lebanon in the 1980s remain unaccounted for.

On Wednesday, visiting French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, met with Shalit's parents in Jerusalem. The Shalits have French citizenship, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has offered his support to the family.

A few hours after the meeting Kouchner said, "We know there is progress" in the negotiations for Shalit's release. "The German mediation is positive. We do not want to interfere," added the French FM.

Earlier Wednesday, the American Arabic-language news network Alhurra reported that a deal for the release of the Israeli soldier was in the "last agreement" stages.

According to the report, which cites "credible sources", Shalit is slated to be released on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha, which falls next Friday. The soldier will be released in exchange for "hundreds of prisoners", the network said.

Alhurra further informed that Shalit is slated to be released to Egypt and from there he will make his way to Israel. The details of the agreement will be made public in the coming days.

Roee Nahmias and AFP contributed to the report