Last update - 00:00 15/01/2007
Hamas official: Israel will regret rejecting Egyptian bid on Shalit
By Haaretz Service
A Hamas official said Monday that Israel will regret its decision to reject a deal mediated by Egypt for the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.
According to member of Hamas' political bureau in Gaza Osama al-Mazeyni, in any future negotiations the group will double the number of prisoners demanded in exchange for Shalit.
He said also that the senior officials involved in the negotiations with Israel do not know where Shalit is held by his abductors.
Gilad Shalit was abducted by Palestinian militants on June 25, 2006 and Israel has been negotiating with Hamas over his return ever since. The major stumbling block in talks has been the number and identity of prisoners it would release in exchange for the kidnapped soldier.