Hamas says it's ready to resume talks on Schalit swap deal

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Hamas deputy chief said Monday his group is ready to resume talks with Egyptian officials in order to reach a prisoner exchange deal with Israel as soon as possible over the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.

Moussa Abu Marzouk told The Associated Press in an interview that Hamas "did not close and will not close the door until we release our prisoners from Israeli jails."

Egyptian-brokered talks over a deal that would see Israel release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Schalit broke down last week.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said early this week that Hamas' excessive demands prevented the deal and indicated he would turn the matter over to his successor, Binyamin Netanyahu.

Source: Jerusalem Post