| Pic added per suggestion in comments. |
It is now 900 days since the soldier was kidnapped in a cross-border raid at Kerem Shalom in June 2006. Hamas, said Zahar, had denied requests by the Red Cross to visit Shalit for security reasons, but added that Islam required fair treatment of prisoners.
According to media reports citing the radio interview, Zahar said Israel needed only to "gather the courage" for an agreement to be implemented and it could be done in a day.
Zahar said the only way to bring about Shalit's freedom was to release of prisoners held in Israeli jails and detainees serving life sentences in particular. He expressed hope that the formation of a new Israeli government in 2009 would fulfil Hamas' demands.
Shalit was seized by militants from Gaza in a cross-border raid on 25 June 2006. Two other soldiers were killed.
The subsequent bombardment and invasion of the coastal territory by Israeli troops failed to secure his release.