Hamas tells of talks for Shalit deal

GAZA, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Efforts to conclude a prisoner swap and secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit are under way in Gaza, a Hamas source told the Ma'an News Agency.

German mediator Gerhard Konrad is still involved and visited Gaza numerous times in recent weeks to discuss the deal, the source told Ma'an Friday.

Last month, a Hamas official told the London based al-Hayat newspaper Konrad raised a number of "new ideas to advance the matter" during a two-day visit to the Gaza Strip.

The official stressed that the movement had not changed its demand to release 1,000 prisoners who appeared on a list that had been delivered to Israel. The official said an agreement would only be possible when Israel shows it is serious about a deal.

Last June, the Israeli government said it would not release any terrorists to the West Bank but would send them abroad or to the Gaza Strip, The Jerusalem Post said.

Earlier this month, Yuval Diskin, head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), said that during talks to secure Shalit's release in 2009 Hamas constantly raised its demands in order to strike a deal with Israel, Haaretz said.

Shalit was on operational duty near the Gaza Strip border in June 2006 when he was abducted in a raid and taken to Gaza where he has been held incommunicado.

On Saturday, Shalit's parents plan to hold a rally to mark the 1,700 days their son has been in captivity.