Hamas: Talks to Free Shalit Halted

Local Editor, 02-02-2010

Negotiations between the Hamas Movement and "Israel" over a prisoner swap involving captive "Israeli" soldier Gilad Shalit stopped, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar told the BBC in an interview on Tuesday.

"Up to this moment, we fail to achieve this process," Zahar said, adding, "After the interference of "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there was a big regression. For this reason, everything has stopped."

Although "Israel" is reportedly prepared to release about 450 prisoners in exchange for Shalit, Netanyahu said he will not free several high-profile Palestinians who Hamas insist must be part of any deal.

Shalit, now 23, was captured by Hamas fighters and militants from two other groups in a cross-border raid in June 2006.