Report: Tape shows Shalit in good health

JERUSALEM, March 9 (UPI) -- A Hamas videotape shows abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in apparent good health, a Kuwaiti newspaper reported Monday.

The Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida said the videotape of Shalit, who has been held by the militant group since June 2006, is in the possession of Hamas deputy political bureau chief Moussa Abu Marzouk, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

The tape reportedly was given to Abu Marzouk by Ahmed Jabari, chief of the Hamas military wing, during a secret visit by Abu Marzouk to the Gaza Strip late last month. Abu Marzouk also received a letter written by Shalit, which he then handed off to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Haaretz reported.

The Kuwaiti newspaper said the videotape's contents were to be released only after significant progress is made in prisoner swap negotiations between Israel and Hamas.