Rally for Shalit's release
צילום: רויטרס
Sources: Hamas likely to reject Israeli offer on Shalit
Palestinians familiar with swap talks say Islamist group to tell German mediator it does not accept demand to deport some freed prisoners, adding that timing also not ideal for Islamist group
Hamas will likely reject Israel's latest proposal for a prisoner exchange agreement, Palestinian sources in Gaza said Monday.
Speaking to Ynet, the sources, who are familiar with the prisoner exchange negotiations, said the Islamist group objects to Israel's demand to deport some of the prisoners to Gaza or abroad, adding that Israel's refusal to release a number of prominent prisoners affiliated with Hamas' military wing, such Ibrahim Majed, Jamal Abu al-Hayja, Abdullah Barghouti, Abbas al-Sayyed and Hassan Salameh also poses an obstacle.
According to the proposal, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped into Gaza on June 25, 2006.
The sources estimated that Hamas will tell the German mediator that it rejects the Israeli offer and demand that it be amended.
According to the sources, approving the prisoner exchange at this juncture would also not benefit Hamas politically in light of the stalled negotiations on reconciliation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.
On Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear that Israel will insist that terrorists not return to action in the field as part of the prisoner swap deal.
"As of now, there is no deal, and it is not at all clear if there will be a deal. It is clear that if we reach a practical proposal, I will bring it to the cabinet. But we still are not there and I don't know if we will be," Netanyahu told Likud ministers on Sunday.
