GAZA, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Hamas has new demands for a Palestinian prisoner release in exchange for the release of a kidnapped Israeli soldier, London's al-Hayat reported Thursday.
The London newspaper quoted Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal as saying a new condition was Israel's release of Marwan Barghouti, a militant leader of the Tanzim Palestinian movement.
Hamas also wants Israel to free 1,400 Palestinian prisoners in three phases in exchange for Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was 19 when he was abducted along the border last June. He spent his 20th birthday in captivity, and Israeli authorities are confident he is alive and physically well.
Al-Hayaat said Barghouti's aides reported most Israeli government ministers are not opposed to his release.
In earlier negotiations, Israel said repeatedly it would never release any prisoner "with blood on their hands," Ynetnews reported.
There was no immediate response from Israel to the new Hamas demands.
