Shalit activists' protest tent in Jerusalem
Photo: Noam Moskowitz
Palestinian source: No serious meeting on Shalit in months
Gazan tells Ynet, 'Price we are demanding for kidnapped soldier well-known.' Top Hamas figure says movement managed to hold Shalit for years despite Israeli attempts to retrieve him
A Palestinian source in Gaza told Ynet that negotiations on kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit had been completely stalled for months. "We haven't had one serious meeting on Shalit in two months," he said Saturday. "The price we are demanding is well-known, but the Israelis are adamant and dragging their feet."
Senior Hamas figure Khalil Al-Hayya also stressed Saturday that the Islamist group would not release Shalit until its demands are met.
Speaking at a ceremony in Gaza City to commemorate Prophet Muhammad's night journey, Al-Hayya said collaborators informed Hamas security interrogators of continued attempts by Israeli intelligence to obtain information about Shalit, who was kidnapped into Gaza during a cross-border raid on an IDF base some four years ago.
“All their attempts will continue to fail until he is released willingly when Israel releases long-term Palestinian prisoners,” he was quoted by the Ma'an News Agency as saying.
Al-Hayya reiterated that Hamas is ready to carry out "serious negotiations" with Israel to finalize a prisoner exchange deal.
