Israel offers deal to Hamas

Hamas rejected suggestions from Israel's Public Security Minister Avi Dichter that some Palestinian prisoners would be freed in return for freeing an Israeli captured soldier.

Meantime, Haaretz today reported that Dichter "said that once Shalit is released and militants stop rocket attacks from Gaza, 'then, in a goodwill gesture, Israel, as it has in the past, knows how to free prisoners,'" saying Dichter's comments were relayed by his spokesman, Ofer Lefler.

Haaretz reported that Hamas rejected Dichter's suggestions quoting Hamas lawmaker Mushir al-Masri told Reuters saying "Our people have no faith in goodwill gestures.. There is no talk at the moment about the missing soldier, we are talking about 30 Palestinian martyrs and 100 wounded in an Israeli military aggression against our people."

Haaretz said "Hamas sources said Thursday that the group would agree to release the Shalit and stop firing Qassam rockets at Israel in exchange for the release of all female Palestinian prisoners and about 30 prisoners who have been in Israeli jails for more than 20 years."