The Hamas terrorist organization on Tuesday morning denied media reports that it hardened its position during negotiations in the past three days for the return of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Ayman Taha, a spokesman for the terrorist group, insisted that its message has remained consistent the entire time: No compromises on its demand for the release of 450 terrorists, most of whom had murdered Israelis - plus hundreds more in subsequent stages of the exchange.
"We presented the same list of prisoners," Taha told reporters on Monday. "The list consists of many who were sentenced to lengthy terms or have been in prison for more than 20 years. We hope that the Zionist enemy will accept our demands in the coming days."
Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Haya also told journalists in Gaza on Monday that all the reports of progress in the talks were simply "media exaggeration."
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office has repeatedly cautioned against excessive optimism, as the media reported hopeful remarks by Cabinet ministers who clearly looked forward to voting on a deal to bring Shalit home.
Hope Fades, Grim Reality Sets In
The Cabinet is set to meet in a special session scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. But it is becoming clear that there will be no need for a vote, as no deal has been agreed upon. Olmert's special envoy Ofer Dekel and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) director Yuval Diskin briefed the prime minister on developments in the talks upon their return from marathon talks in Cairo on Monday night.
Dekel and Diskin reported that not only had Hamas refused to compromise, but the terrorist group had indeed hardened its stance and returned to its initial position seen in talks a year ago.
"They raised demands of someone who did not wish for a solution," reported a source close to the Israeli envoys who spoke to Haaretz. "The demands came out of nowhere and there was a huge discrepancy between that and things that had been discussed in the past."
Following the briefing, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement to the media explaining, "Despite generous offers put forth by Israel in order to further and conclude the negotiations and gain Shalit's release, Hamas opted to reject everything."
An official from Olmert's office was tasked with the sad duty of calling Shalit's father Noam to deliver the grim news that the talks had failed.
A government official was scheduled to meet together with Shalit's parents, Noam and Aviva, and his 25-year-old brother Yuval on Tuesday morning to share information about what occurred in Cairo.
IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi cut short a visit to the United States and boarded a plane to Tel Aviv late Monday night in order to be present for the Cabinet meeting, at which time all 25 ministers will hear details of the negotiations.