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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas accepts Egyptian invitation for prisoners talks with Israel |
| 2008-07-01 |
| (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Monday said it accepted an Egyptian invitation to hold indirect talks with Israel to exchange a captive soldier for a number of Palestinian prisoners. But Osama al-Muzini, a Hamas official close to the file of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, added that there was no official date set for holding the talks. Al-Muzini explained that Hamas would not be going to the negotiations until being assured about the extent of Israel's commitment to a recent ceasefire brokered by Egypt in Gaza Strip. The Hamas-Israel ceasefire was intended to ease the siege that Israel imposed on Gaza Strip when Hamas took over the territory by force in June 2007. It is also sought to provide suitable atmosphere for the talks about Shalit who has been hostage for more than two years. Hamas, which led the cross-border raid to kidnap Shalit, demands the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in addition to imprisoned women and children, al-Muzini reiterated. |
| Posted by:Fred |