Hamas leaders, noting the Hizbullah success in using German mediators to win the release of terrorists, are calling on their new party to switch from Egypt to Germany to lead talks with Israel on freeing kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Hamas has been unhappy with Egypt for failing to open the border at Rafiah following the month-old temporary Gaza ceasefire it negotiated with Israel and Hamas.

"The Egyptians have proved that they are unable to put enough pressure on Israel to accept our demands," one Hamas official was quoted by the Post. However, Osama Hamdan, the Lebanese representative for Hamas, said there has been no official discussion on ousting Egyptian officials.