JERUSALEM, April 25 (UPI) -- A Hamas newspaper suggested that Hamas might abduct Israeli soldiers to hold as hostages during bargaining for the release of soldier Gilad Shalit.
An article in al-Resalah Sunday hinted that Hamas would take advantage of the relative calm in the area to kidnap soldiers.
Shalit was taken hostage in a cross-border raid in 2006.
The newspaper said the soldiers would be held in the event Shalit was killed in an Israeli raid to gain his freedom.
If Shalit were killed, "Hamas's bargaining chip will disappear," the article said, indicating that Hamas doesn't want the issue of a prisoner-exchange deal to be based only on Shalit.
"The resistance is coming closer to conducting another kidnapping," the article said.
Ynetnews.com said Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would continue to hold negotiations for Shalit's release under the guidance of a German mediator.
