The leader of Hamas said he has provided information to the parents of Gilad Shalit about the captive soldier’s health. “We gave free information to Gilad’s father and his family,” Khaled Meshaal said in a rare interview Monday on CNN. “We treat Gilad Shalit in a humanitarian way that is in line with Palestinian morality.”
Meshaal said Shalit’s captors provided him with new glasses. Shalit’s family denies receiving information about the captive, CNN reported. Meshaal acknowledged Hamas’ direct role in capturing Shalit in a cross-border raid in June 2006.
“There is a military wing and it knows its duties very well,” he said. “They know their duties and responsibilities, and of course we support them.” Meshaal said Hamas almost reached a deal with Israel on exchanging Shalit for 350 Palestinian prisoners, but that it fell through over the types of prisoners Israel would release.
“The problem is not with the numbers, but Olmert wants to release prisoners designated by him,” Meshall said.
Israel has said it will only release prisoners not involved in killings.
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