A news publication affiliated with the Hamas movement
in the Gaza Strip has reported that sealing the deal on the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit hinges
on one prisoner, whose release is still being negotiated by the two sides.
Al Risala newspaper reported that negotiations have reached a very advanced stage, but did not publish the name of the said prisoner.
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Hamas also reported that big headway
has been made in the negotiations, however said that a deal has yet to be reached due to disagreement on several prisoners – not just one.
A Hamas delegation from Syria
is scheduled to travel to Cairo Monday and meet with the leadership from the Gaza Strip in order to discuss the latest proposal given to Israel.
Earlier, it was reported that the delegation will be headed by a Senior Hamas member Mahmoud al-Zahar.
Many reports have surfaced in recent days about the deal nearing completion.
Saudi network al-Arabiya reported
Sunday that the deal will be executed as early as this coming Friday – the first day of Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Palestine Journal, Hamas's official publication in the Strip, did not mention the deal; instead, Monday's main headline discussed recent offences of the IDF in the Gaza Strip.
The only mention given to the Shalit deal was in Hamas representative Osama Hamdan's statement, in which he denied that the deal was nearing completion, adding that this will only occur once Israel concede to the demands of Shalit's capturers.
Meanwhile, the Shalit family made last efforts to press the government before a final decision is made. Aviva and Noam Shalit met Monday
morning with Hagai Hadas, the main negotiator for their captured soldier son, Gilad.
The meeting, which was held at Tel Aviv's Kirya military base, lasted about two hours. Reporters wishing to speak with the family prior to the meeting were told by Noam Shalit that "now is not the time to talk."
After the meeting concluded, Noam Shalit told reporters: "We cannot speak at the moment, and I have nothing to add. We will share our joy if there is one to share, but I am not at ease."
"I've participated in far more interesting meetings in my life," Shalit said in response to questions about the meeting's content.
Later today, Shalit is scheduled to travel to Jerusalem and meet with several ministers.
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