Middle East News
Palestinian group urges resumed Egypt mediation on Shalit (Extra)
Oct 6, 2007, 12:46 GMT
Gaza - A Palestinian research centre for prisoners' issues on Saturday called on Egypt to renew mediation between Israel and the Palestinian factions that are holding an Israeli soldier in Gaza.
Ra'fat Hamdouna, director of the Prisoners Centre for Study and Research, added that the Egyptian efforts should be 'based on a number of principles demonstrating the issues' humanitarian and national dimensions.'
The Palestinian factions holding Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit are demanding Israel to release older prisoners, women, children and the infirm from its jails in exchange for the soldier. Israel is holding about 11,000 Palestinians.
'Neglecting those groups of prisoners in any future swap won't make the deal fruitful,' said Hamdouna, adding he was 'optimistic that the Egyptian intervention could work out.'
Egypt suspended mediation in June when the Islamic Hamas movement, which led Shalit's captors, seized control of the Gaza Strip and routed forces loyal to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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