The pan-Arab newspaper Al Hayat reported on Thursday that the indirect talks for the release of the abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit have resumed.
The paper said that the head of Hamas military wing, Ahmad Jabari, had visited Cairo to carry on with the negotiations for the release of the Israeli soldier, who was captured by the Islamic group three years ago, in exchange for hundreds of Hamas prisoners incarcerated in Israel.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Israeli negotiator Hagai Hadas met earlier this week with Shalit's father, Noam, and said he would do his utmost to secure Gilad's release.
"We are firmly committed to our soldiers, and this devotion is the principle that guides me," Hadas told Shalit.
Gilad's grandfather, Zvi Shalit, fiercely criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, accusing him of not making enough effort to release his grandson.
"Gilad Shalit's fate is in the hands of one person, and the prime minister has yet to give it adequate attention," Zvi Shalit said.
On Wednesday, Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) said that Israel should free convicted terrorists to secure Shalit's release.
