Hamas: We didn't ask for German mediator's replacement

Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar said that the organization never asked for the replacement of the German mediator in the negotiations to release the captive IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit. "Who said that we are interested replacing the mediator? It's not true," al-Zahar said in an interview with the Al-Aqsa television channel, which is associated with the organization.

Al-Zahar added that no talks have taken place on the deal to release Shalit in recent months, and that the issue is in a total deadlock. (Elior Levy)