The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Wednesday said the Israeli soldier it holds in Gaza will be considered missing if Israel kept delaying prisoner exchange.
"The fate of the captive soldier Gilad Shalit will be the same as the Israeli airman Ron Arad," said Abu Obaida, a spokesman for Hamas military wing in Gaza.
Arad went missing in 1986 when his aircraft was attacking a target for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Israel believes he was captured by Lebanese militias but unconfirmed reports say he died in 1998.
The indirect talks between Hamas and Israel over the swap have been halted since nearly one year due to Israel's refusal of the lists of prisoners that Hamas demands their freedom.
"If this delay continued, the enemy shall consider Gilad Shalitas Ron Arad No. 2," Abu Obaida said.
In 2006, Hamas led an attack on an Israeli army base near Gaza, capturing Shalit. Hamas demands to free him in exchange for at least 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
"The option of capturing Israeli soldiers will remain open until freeing all the prisoners from the Israeli jails," Hamas' spokesman said.
Source: Xinhua
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