Shalit to be released in return for Palestinian detainees, says a well-informed source

Monday December 24, 2007 04:20 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC&Agencies

A well-informed source, speaking in a condition of anonymity, told Maan News Agency on Sunday that Israeli soldier, Gil'ad Shalit, captured by Hamas in Gaza, will expectedly be released soon, within a Hamas-Israeli deal.

captured Israeli soldier, Gil'ad Shalit

The source revealed that the deal will be of a swap nature, in which 500 Palestinian prisoners, involving Hamas lawmakers, will be released by Israel in exchange of Shalit.

The deal also includes halt of Palestinian homemade shells, being fired onto Israel from Gaza as well as reinitiating of a Hamas-Fatah dialogue three months later, the unidentified source disclosed.

The source believed that the reason behind Hamas's lowered expectations with respect to the Shalit's case was Hamas' growing interest of getting rid of the ongoing Israeli siege on Gaza, since Shalit has been captured last June.

Israeli defense minister's expected visit to Cairo is linked to such a potential Israel-Hamas deal, the source anticipated.

The deal will be likely made up of the following items:

1- Release of 500 prisoners including Hamas lawmakers, Israel jailed after Shalit case.
2- Halt of homemade shells fire from Gaza as well as making other Palestinian resistance groups to commit to ceasefire declaration.
3- Preparation for Palestinian elections, following an intra-Palestinian agreement on a national dialogue.

From its part, Hamas's armed wing, Ezzildin aL-Qassam brigades, which holds Shalit, denied any deals have been reached with Israel.

Abu Obaida, the brigade's spokesman, was quoted by Maan as saying " our conditions as to the Shalit release remain in place; and no ceasefire declaration can be embraced unless Israel stops its aggression against our people in West Bank and Gaza Strip".

Hamas, which now controls the coastal region, has been holding the Israeli soldier Gil'ad Shalit since last June during a cross-border attack in southern Gaza. Egypt has been reportedly mediating his release between Palestinians and Israel, yet no agreement has been concluded up to date.

gaza strip | prisoners | news report rami at imemc dot org