The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) threatened on Sunday to kidnap Israeli soldiers in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Ismail Heneya, top Hamas candidate for the Jan. 25 Palestinian legislative elections, told reporters that the release of the Palestinian prisoners is given high priority by the hardline group.

Heneya said that Hamas militants had kidnapped Israeli soldiers before in a bid to win the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Currently, there are about 8,500 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Hamas, a major radical Palestinian faction sworn to the destruction of Israel, has been the driving force behind the

Palestinian Intifada (uprising) since late 2000.

Riding on a high popularity among grassroots Palestinians, Hamas is widely expected to challenge the ruling Fatah movement in the first Palestinian legislative elections in ten years.

Hamas boycotted the first and only legislative council election in 1996.

Source: Xinhua