Minister of Strategic Affairs Tzahi Hanegbi(Likud) referred Sunday to reports of progress towards a prisoner exchange with Hamas.
Hanegbi queried the validity of the reports, which he said came from Palestinian sources and should be assumed to be unreliable.
Hanegbi added that "if indeed the reports reflect reality then I think this is a mistake. Terrorists should not be released for information or for bodies or for infiltrators who entered Gaza of their own will.
"Israel's interest is to pressure Hamas prisoners held by us in order to leverage Hamas leadership into returning our captives based on international treaties. We must pressure and not cave in to pressure," concluded Hanegbi.