A Hamas official close to prisoners' talks said Monday that there was no signs of a real deal to free a captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Osama al-Muzini made the denial in response to a Monday report by Israeli army radio that Israel and Hamas have agreed on 230names that Hamas demands to be freed in exchange for Shalit and the differences have reduced to 120 names.
"There are talks but we did not reach any agreement so far," said al-Muzini, explaining that European sides were involved as mediators between Israel and the Hamas-led captors of Shalit who was kidnapped in June 2006 by three militant groups.
Al-Muzini noted that Hamas insists on a deal, reached about one year ago, to free 1000 prisoners, including women, children, patients and old detainees, asserting that "Hamas will not retreator give up the names it presented."
"Shalit was kidnapped in order to free those who have spent long years in the prisons," he stressed.
Meanwhile, spokesman for the captors Abu Mujahed said that there was an Israeli "flexibility" in dealing with the issue.
Source: Xinhua
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