Hamas: If Israel doesn't release prisoners, we'll negotiate over Shalit's bones

[Behind the Aegis]

Deputy leader of Hamas' political bureau Moussa Abu Marzouk said Sunday that Hamas will release captive Israel Defense Forces Soldier Gilad Shalit only if Israel frees 350 Palestinian prisoners.

In an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas Sunday, Abu Marzouk said that if Israel fails to free the prisoners, Hamas will negotiate with Israel over Shalit's bones.

On Saturday, Palestinian Parliament Member representing Hamas, Mushir al Masri, blamed Israel and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for failing to reach a compromise that would procure Shalit's release from captivity.

Al Masri told a Palestinian news agency "I want to turn to the Shalit family and say 'Olmert and his associates are gambling with your son's life.'"

Al Masri further said that another Israeli insistence would make Hamas seal off the possibility for Shalit's release. "Shalit will never see the light of day, or his parents, if the Palestinian prisoners will not see theirs," he declared.

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[polticalpout]

1. Israel should negotiate with Hamas but not accept their demands

Hamas can't actually expect Israel to now go and release 350 prisoners, It would only cause more kidnappings. Something in the middle should be agreed upon by both sides.

[aasleka]

2. Attacking a military target is one thing, killing a prisoner is another

This is a bad move for Hamas, sounds like they are desperate

[polticalpout]

5. I don't think Hamas is threatening to kill him

but that they would just never let him go thus he would die of old age if no deal is made.

[Wild Colonial Boy]

6. Barring recent proof of life, its a safe assumption that he is long dead

[shaayecanaan]

8. or not...

from Wikipedia:

On 4 January 2007, Hamas offered to give Israel a videotape proving that Shalit is still alive if Israel released all Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons.<5> Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected Hamas’s proposal. Shalit’s father, Noam Shalit, seemed to agree with the government’s response, stating on 7 January, “I want my son back, not a video or a letter.”<21>

On 9 January 2007, Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the captors, asserted that Shalit “has not been harmed at all,” going on to say, “He is being treated in accordance with Islamic values regulating the treatment of prisoners of war.” However, he threatened, “We have managed to keep the soldier in captivity for six months and we have no problem keeping him for years.”<22>

To date, Gilad is the only Israeli soldier to have been confirmed to be alive by his captors. Hezbollah has not revealed whether the two Israeli soldiers they captured are alive.

On 17 January 2007, one of the captor groups, the Army of Islam headed by Mumtaz Dormush, claimed that Shalit is held exclusively by Hamas.<23>

On 8 March 2007, The Jerusalem Post reported that an agreement has been reached with Hamas over the number of prisoners Israel will release in return for Cpl. Gilad Schalit. Israel and Hamas are still negotiating specific prisoners that Hamas wants freed in return for Shalit.<6>

On 7 April 2007, It was reported that the captors of Gilad Shalit have transferred to Israel, via Egyptian mediators, a list of Palestinian prisoners they want freed. The list includes approximately 1300 names some of which are high ranking Fatah members. <7>

On 4 February 2008, it was reported that Hamas had sent Gilad's family a second letter written by him. The handwriting was confirmed to be that of Shalit. <8>

[azurnoir]

3. Not a good move

on the part of Hamas. Has Hamas provided any proof that Shalit is even alive other then their say so?

[Vegasaurus]

7. I don't think he is alive

nor is Hamas in a position to make such demands, particularly given the fact the Shalit is most likely dead.

[sabbat hunter]

4. I would not be surprised if

Shalit is already dead.