Hamas: Kidnapping soldiers is best solution to free our heroes

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Hamas issued a statement to reporters Monday in support of capturing Israeli soldiers in order to use them as bargaining chips in negotiating the release of Palestinian prisoners.

"We believe that kidnapping soldiers and exchanging them for prisoners is the best solution for releasing our heroes, after the failure of all the diplomatic channels."

Several thousand Palestinians gathered outside the Red Cross office in Gaza on Monday to call for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

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This year's rally came as negotiations continued for a prisoner swap in return for Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas-linked militants last June. Shalit's captors have demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinians, including prisoners convicted for the murders of Israelis.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/849024.html

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1. Haniya: Barghouthi on prisoner list

The Palestinian prime minister has confirmed that Marwan Barghouthi, a Fatah leader from the West Bank, is on a list of prisoners the Palestinian want freed in exchange for a captured Israeli soldier.

Ismail Haniya's comments came after Azzam al-Ahmad, the Fatah deputy prime minister, said the popular intifada leader was left off the list.

"I can confirm to you that the list included the name of Marwan al-Barghouthi," Haniya said during a weekly protest by families of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

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About 1,400 Palestinians being held in Israeli jails are reportedly on the list to be considered in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli reservist who was captured by Palestinian fighters last June.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8257A7E5-5EE8-40E8-8E8F-91964E003D83.htm