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Egypt's FM Ahmed Aboul Gheit told the Arab satellite TV station Al-Arabiyeh Television that Hamas has turned down a deal to release captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. (file)


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Egyptian FM: Hamas turned down prisoner exchange with Israel

By Israel Insider staff and partners October 3, 2006

The ruling Palestinian Hamas party has turned down a deal to exchange up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in return for a captured Israeli soldier, Egypt's foreign minister said in remarks broadcast Monday.

"[There was] a deal that could have freed 900 to 1,000 prisoners, but sadly they have decided to keep holding him," Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told the Arab satellite TV station Al-Arabiyeh Television.

"It is regrettable that the (Israeli) soldier was kidnapped and there was no intention to exchange him," Gheit said.

Last week, Egypt's chief of intelligence Omar Suleiman demanded of Hamas the immediate release of Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Militants close to Hamas captured the soldier on June 25, triggering Israeli military retaliation. Suleiman has been working for months on a prisoner swap deal.

Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz told Israel Radio on Sunday that the IDF might step up military operations in the Gaza Strip, to put pressure on Hamas to release Shalit and halt the firing of rockets at Israel.

"Egypt succeeded in reaching an approval on the release of women, children, elders and men who spent long years in jail and the deal was to release 900 or 1,000 Palestinians. The answer was no," Aboul Gheit said.

Israel has warned that it would launch military operations in Gaza if Shalit is not released before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan ends in about three weeks.

The AP contributed to this report.

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