Israel-Hamas exchange numbers debated

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Hamas says it won't negotiate on demands for an exchange of more than 1,000 prisoners for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Egyptian mediators suggest, however, the Palestinian militant group might be pressured to ease demands, if Israel agreed to free more prisoners "with blood on their hands," Ynetnews reported Saturday.

"We've decided not to discuss the Shalit issue and do not intend to consider any list formulated by the occupation regime (Israel)," Hamas militia spokesman Abu Obeida was quoted as saying by Asharq al-Awsat, an Arabic-language newspaper based in London. "Israel must comply with the list we relayed to it."

But privately, Palestinian and Egyptian officials have told Ynetnews that Hamas would consider lowering its demanded number if Israel would relax criteria and consider releasing prisoners convicted of violent offenses prior to the eruption of the second intifada in 2000 or those detained after 2000 who are not considered a threat because of their medical condition.

Israeli Cabinet members are reanalyzing their list of prisoners who might be considered in an exchange for Shalit, who was captured during a 2006 cross Gaza border raid.