Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, on Friday accused Israel of reneging on offers made in the negotiations for the return of Gilad Shalit.
In an interview with the Palestinian Ramattan News Agency, Zahar claimed Israel had offered to free 450 Palestinian prisoners once Shalit was returned to Israel and an additional 550 prisoners two months later. He said Israel was now offering to release only 450 prisoners and warned that such back-pedaling could lead to the negotiations being scrapped altogether.
Another senior Hamas official was quoted on Friday as saying the group would not renew negotiations for Shalit's release unless Israel met its preconditions, the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported.
According to the report, Hamas laid out three conditions for the renewal of negotiations: the release of all Palestinian prisoners on the list given to Israel via Egypt; the implementation of all Israeli commitments connected to the cease-fire agreement, including reopening the Gaza Strip crossings to cargo; and the opening of the Rafah crossing.
The newspaper further states that Israeli negotiator Ofer Dekel gave Hamas, via Egypt, the names of the 450 prisoners whom Israel would be willing to release.
The unknown Hamas official reiterated his organization's insistence on the original list of names, which includes long-term prisoners, Hamas MPs, women and children.
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