Senior Hamas terrorists said Monday that a deal for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit appears to be very near. A deal could be signed within hours, one told Israeli media.
The group posted an optimistic assessment of the ongoing negotiations on its website. “The Zionist occupation is tending towards giving in to the conditions set by the Palestinian resistance,” Hamas said.
A senior member of the terrorist group told reporters that Israel was giving in on its demands as negotiations continued. “The longer negotiations continue, the more Israel yields,” he said.
Israeli negotiators have agreed to release many terrorists convicted for serious crimes, including those “with blood on their hands” who have played a direct role in murderous attacks, Hamas says.
Hamas and Israel still disagree over the question of where terrorists will go following their release. Israel is asking that terrorists convicted of more serious crimes be expelled from the country, while Hamas insists that only those willing to leave will be asked to do so. “We won't force anyone to leave against his will,” the group's negotiators insisted Monday.
MK Kara: Kidnap Maashal, Haniyeh
MK Ayoub Kara (Likud) said Monday that Israel must bring Shalit home as quickly as possible. Each day that goes by without Shalit's return wears away at Israel's power of deterrence, he said.
However, instead of releasing terrorists currently in prison in exchange for Shalit, Israel should kidnap Hamas leaders Khaled Maashal and Ismail Haniyeh and use them to barter, the MK said.
Israel could also stage a military operation to free Shalit, Kara added. As a last resort, Israel could agree to release some prisoners, as long as they had not committed murder. Releasing murderers should be out of the question, he concluded.