GAZA CITY: Hamas could halt talks on the release of an Israeli solider seized in the Gaza Strip if Egypt does not free one of its leaders, a Hamas official said.
Soldier Gilad Shalit was captured by Palestinians during a cross-border raid in June 2006.
In exchange for his release, Hamas has demanded that Israel sets free hundreds of prisoners it holds.
It also wants Egypt to release Ayman Nofel, a senior Hamas military commander arrested in Egypt on suspicion he was planning to attack targets there.
Egypt has been trying to mediate a prisoner swap.
But Hamas leader Youssef Farhat told a rally of hundreds of Nofel’s followers that Egypt could not play a mediation role as long as it held him.
“We have put the file of Shalit in the fridge and it will remain frozen unless Nofel is freed,” Farhat said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zohri, however, played down Farhat’s statements saying they reflected frustration within Hamas over the situation.
“Nofel’s continued detention is annoying and it has topped the agenda of all talks with Egyptian officials. We hope Egypt can end it by freeing him,” Abu Zohri added.
