Middle East News
Hamas: Next few hours "decisive" in prisoner negotiations (Extra)
Dec 21, 2009, 12:38 GMT
Gaza City/Cairo - The next few hours will be 'decisive' in negotiations over a deal that could see captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a Hamas official said Monday.
The official, speaking to the German Press Agency dpa on condition of anonymity, said Hamas was awaiting for a German mediator to convey Israel's response on its most recent offer, which he said could see as many as 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for Shalit's release.
Shalit was captured near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip in 2006.
Hamas was 'willing to be flexible' in its negotiations with the German mediator, the Hamas official said, but would 'adhere to their demands' in a bid for an 'honourable' compromise.
He spoke as senior Israeli cabinet ministers broke for lunch after meeting for the fourth time in 24 hours to debate the Hamas proposal.
The six ministers and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had met late into the night Sunday, following consultations with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who is also brokering talks.
The Israeli cabinet was reportedly split down the middle on whether to accept the deal.
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