Hamas says it agrees to free captive Israeli soldier for Palestinian prisoners

Palestinian ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) revealed on Thursday that it has agreed to release the captive Israeli soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit for a number of Palestinian prisoners in phases.

A Hamas leader Osama al-Muzini told reporters that his Islamic movement was flexible when it agreed to get 500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, including 400 women and youngsters, freed as the first phase.

In the second phase, Israel will release another 500 prisoners who are sentenced to long period in prison, he said.

However, al-Muzini noted there was no agreement yet with Israel on the number or the categories of the prisoners, but the new thing that his movement has agreed the principle of phases.

Earlier, Palestinian Minister of Prisoners' Affairs also revealed that Egyptian mediators have signaled what he called positive signs to swap the Israeli soldier for a number of prisoners in phases.

Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas' military wing and two other militant groups on June 25 from his base outside the Gaza Strip.

Source: Xinhua