'Hamas delegation departs for Syria to discuss Schalit'

Group set to hold round of meetings with political leadership on new proposal put forward by German mediator, report from Gaza says.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal 311 Reu (photo credit: Khaled Al Hariri / Reuters)
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal 311 Reu
(photo credit: Khaled Al Hariri / Reuters)
A Hamas delegation was expected to leave the Gaza Strip Friday to Sudan and then on to Damascus for a round of meetings about negotiations for a prisoner exchange that would include captive Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit.
The delegation set out to Damascus to meet with Hamas' political leadership regarding a new proposal put forward by the German mediator regarding the release of Schalit, Gaza-based Palestine Today reported.
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Hamas said that progress was being made and that the mediator has presented new ideas to both Hamas and Israel, the Gaza-based news agency reported.
According to the report, the delegation had been scheduled to embark nearly one month ago but was prevented from doing so by the Egyptian revolution taking place at the time.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he hopes kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit will be released during his term in office.
“I cannot offer details on our efforts to release Gilad Schalit, but you can be assured that, without giving details, a day does not pass in which we are not working to make things happen,” Netanyahu said.
“Even if we cannot explain what we are doing, the goal is the same goal as in New Zealand – to rescue him from the depths of the earth and return Gilad home.”