Hamas leader in Gaza says Shalit talks frozen, Israel to blame

Hamas' senior leader in the Gaza Strip says talks on exchanging captured Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit for Palestinian prisoners have frozen, and blames Israel.

Mahmoud Zahar says the Egyptian-mediated negotiations have broken down because Israel won't meet Hamas demands to release prisoners convicted of murdering Israelis.

Zahar also said Wednesday that the talks have stalled because Israel and Egypt won't open their border crossings with Gaza. Both countries sealed the border after Hamas seized power in Gaza in June 2007.

Hamas wants Israel to free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the soldier. Israel has balked at Hamas' demand to release convicted murderers.

Hamas-led militants captured Sgt. Gilad Schalit in a cross-border raid two years ago.

Israeli security sources involved in the negotiations over the abducted IDF soldier said no significant progress was achieved in recent weeks' talks.

The ministerial meeting Sunday to reevaluate the criteria for releasing Palestinian prisoners was meant to send Hamas a message that Israel is willing to show a certain degree of flexibility, the sources said.

	Mahmoud Zahar. (AP)