GAZA CITY, Gaza, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Israel said Sunday it doubted a claim by a Palestinian group that the abduction of Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit would be resolved in "a number of days."
The Popular Resistance Committees said the three Palestinian factions involved in the June 25 raid and abduction of Shalit -- Fatah, the Islamic Jihad and Hamas -- agreed to a deal put together by Egypt, Ha'aretz reported.
The deal calls for Shalit to be freed in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
A Hamas leader also urged caution, saying, "Israel has agreed on the number of prisoners that will be released, but we must also agree on their identity and only then can we say that there is an agreement."
Palestinian sources told Ha'aretz the prisoner exchange would involve 1,000 Palestinians held in Israel, who would be released in stages.
