A senior Hamas leader on Tuesday hinted that his movement will exchange an Israeli soldier for only the Islamic movement's prisoners.
The remarks of Mahmoud Zahar, Hamas former foreign minister, were made as he commented on an Israeli decision to free some 200 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to president Mahmoud Abbas of rival Fatah movement.
Hamas says most of the prisoners, which Israel approved their release, were affiliated with Fatah.
"If Israel or the (Palestinian National) Authority were aiming to promote the prisoners, who are from Fatah, were released through Abbas, this will push us to demand the release of prisoners we find them suitable for us," Zahar said, adding that his movement "has understood the message and will act according to it."
However, Zahar said that Hamas' policy was "releasing prisoners regardless their factional affiliation," describing the release of only Fatah prisoners "a very sad thing."
Hamas captured an Israeli soldier in 2006 and demanded, through Egyptian mediators, to free 1,000 prisoners in addition to all jailed women, children and old in exchange for the Corporal Gilad Shalit.
Since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip by force last year, no progress was made on talks to achieve the swap.
Source: Xinhua
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