Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Thursday that captured Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit will be freed soon.

"The issue of Palestinian prisoners will be resolved soon, and they will be released along with the Israeli soldier," Haniyeh told reporters at the El-Arish airport in northern Sinai.

"We must continue to pressure Israel to close this deal as quickly as possible, so that the Israeli soldier and the Palestinian prisoners will be released soon," he continued.

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The Palestinian prime minister said he has received positive signals from Egyptian mediators working to secure a prisoner exchange between Israel and the Palestinians.

This is not the first time, however, that Haniyeh has made such optimistic comments regarding the possibility of an upcoming swap.

Rafah border crossing closed after Haniyeh passes in car
The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was temporarily closed by European monitors on Thursday afternoon, after Haniyeh passed through the crossing with his car, in violation of an agreement reached two weeks ago.

Haniyeh crossed from Gaza to Egypt earlier Thursday, on his way to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar and Interior Minister Saeed Seyam accompanied the Prime Minister as he passed through the crossing.

Following his trip to Saudi Arabia, Haniyeh is expected to visit Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan.

Upon his return to Gaza from a visit to Iran, Sudan, and other countries in the Middle East, it was agreed that the prime minister is required to pass through the crossing on foot, with no special privileges. Also two weeks ago, authorities prevented the transfer of $35 million in cash by Haniyeh into the Gaza Strip.

Haniyeh's passage through the crossing in a vehicle angered the European monitors stationed at the place, and they temporarily shut down the crossing.

Hundreds of Palestinians were left stranded on both sides of the crossing, waiting to cross following family visits for the Eid al-Adha holiday. Talks are underway in an attempt to settle the crisis.