Hamas willing to release Shalit as part of a ceasefire agreement

Sources close to Hamas have said the organisation is willing to release IDF kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit and will include him in a mutual ceasefire deal with Israel. The source told the Jerusalem Post that Hamas is willing to exchange 500 Palestinian prisoners in return for Shalit, while Hamas is also demanding the reopening of Gaza border crossings and an end to international sanctions.

In related developments, PM Olmert told the Shalit family yesterday that there are no updates in terms of the release of their son. Olmert updated the family following reports that Israel and Hamas may renew talks through Egyptian mediators. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Ehud Barak will travel to Cairo on Wednesday to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and intelligence chief Oman Suleiman with the main topic of the meeting expected to be the Shalit affair.

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