Israel: Hamas to decide if crossings open

JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The decision whether to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and prompt the reopening of the Gaza border crossings rests with Hamas, Israeli officials said.

Ynetnews.com reported Wednesday that the Gaza crossings could be reopened within days of Shalit's release. Shalit was captured in a June 2006 cross-border raid and has been held hostage by Hamas since.

"Should the terror organization want to, Gilad can be released within days, and two days later the crossings will be fully opened," a source in Jerusalem said.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he is willing to send his special envoy Ofer Dekel to Cairo to help secure Shalit's release.

"Ofer will sit in his room at the Cairo hotel, a Hamas representative will sit in another room, and the Egyptians will mediate," a source in Jerusalem said. "They won't move until an understanding is reached ... . They won't get out of there until we see white smoke and secure agreements regarding Shalit's release."

The news site said disagreements still persist over some of the prisoners demanded by Hamas in exchange for Shalit.