Mashaal΄s Deputy Receives Shalit Video

 
Source: Al-Manar TV, 09-03-2009

Hamas' deputy politburo Chief Moussa Abu Marzouk received a videotape showing captured "Israeli" occupation soldier Gilad Shalit during his recent secret visit to the Gaza Strip, Kuwaiti newspaper al-Jarida reported Monday, quoting sources close to the Palestinian resistance movement.

Shalit is being held captive by Hamas' military wing. The same newspaper reported about a week ago that Abu Marzouk had also been handed a letter written by the captured soldier.
According to the new report, Abu Marzouk received the tape from Ahmad Jabari, the military wing's commander in Gaza. The sources told the paper that the letter was delivered to the Syrian Foreign Ministry and that Abu Marzouk chose to keep the tape.

It was also reported that Hamas had no plans to give out the tape, which proves Shalit is in good health, "unless real and serious progress is made and concessions are made by "Israel", and it goes back on its insistence in terms of the prisoner exchange deal."
The sources also told the paper that "Hamas is interested in using the tape as a strong bargaining chip at the end of the process, in order to prove its seriousness in wanting to end the matter."

According to the sources, Abu Mrazouk informed senior Egyptian officials of the videotape, but did not turn it over to them.
Meanwhile, the captured soldier's parents are preparing for their second day in the protest tent set up outside the "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's residence in occupied 'Jerusalem' (al-Quds).

Last weekend, Olmert criticized the public demonstrations urging Shalit's release, claiming that the advocacy campaign is encouraging Hamas to harden its position in negotiations. "Even when we did nothing, they told us that it is not helping," Noam Shalit said in response to the criticism.
Ynet learned on Sunday that "Israeli" security officials have been interviewing 'heavyweight' Palestinian detainees in what the Palestinian Authority considers a sign of headway in the negotiations on a possible prisoner swap that would see Shalit released.

The detainees who are being interviewed were all sentenced to multiple life sentences and are considered to have "blood on their hands". The most infamous prisoner being interviewed is Nasser Awais, the former commander of Fatah's armed wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Awais was captured by "Israeli" occupation army forces during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002. He was sentenced to 11 life terms.

According to the detainees' families and the lawyers representing them, "Israeli" officials have recently begun holding a series of meetings with the detainees.
It was further reported that about two weeks ago "Israel" approved 226 of the 450 names on Hamas' list of 'heavyweight' detainees it wants released in exchange for Shalit.
Also on Sunday, Egyptian sources reported that "Israel's" representative in the prisoner exchange negotiations, Ofer Dekel, arrived in Cairo for a lightning visit.